Mechanism and molecular basis of apomixis in angiosperms

• Published in: Vegetos - International journal of plant research 2024, Vol.37 (6), p.2191-2202
• Main Authors: Sivasankarreddy, Kasireddy, Joseph, Jiji, P., Deepthy Antony
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Life Sciences; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Physiology; Review Articles
• ISSN: 2229-4473; 2229-4473
• DOI: 10.1007/s42535-024-00888-2

Hybrids with high yield and stress tolerance have been developed by researchers and cultivated by farmers over the years. However, their genetic constitution will change in the segregating generations and the elite traits of the hybrids will not be retained completely in the subsequent generations. These limitations can be overcome by exploiting the asexual mode of reproduction that exists in flowering plants known as apomixis. This phenomenon has the potential to produce clonal or genetically identical seeds as the mother genotype and it can also preserve the hybrid vigour for several generations. In angiosperms, it is essential to understand the mechanism and molecular basis of apomixis to transfer or convert non-apomictic plants to apomictic plants. Different genes/alleles or genetic mechanisms controlling various steps of apomixis have already been reported. Recently, few studies were reported on how non-apomictic plants can be converted into apomictic lines by using two approaches viz ., hybridization and CRISPR/Cas gene editing method, to develop synthetic apomictic lines. This synthetic apomixis brought an initial breakthrough by producing clonal hybrid seeds (> 90 per cent) over multiple generations. This review highlights the mechanisms, molecular basis of apomixis and recent developments, achievements and challenges in apomixis, as a tool for clonal seed production, preservation of heterosis and crop improvement.