Options for Engineering Apomixis in Plants

In plants, embryogenesis and reproduction are not strictly dependent on fertilization. Several species can produce embryos in seeds asexually, a process known as apomixis. Apomixis is defined as clonal asexual reproduction through seeds, whereby the progeny is identical to the maternal genotype, and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in plant science 2022-03, Vol.13, p.864987
Main Authors: Yin, Pei Pei, Tang, Li Ping, Zhang, Xian Sheng, Su, Ying Hua
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
apomeiosis
apomixis
parthenogenesis
plant breeding
Plant Science
somatic embryogenesis
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Summary:In plants, embryogenesis and reproduction are not strictly dependent on fertilization. Several species can produce embryos in seeds asexually, a process known as apomixis. Apomixis is defined as clonal asexual reproduction through seeds, whereby the progeny is identical to the maternal genotype, and provides valuable opportunities for developing superior cultivars, as its induction in agricultural crops can facilitate the development and maintenance of elite hybrid genotypes. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of apomixis and highlight the successful introduction of apomixis methods into sexual crops. In addition, we discuss several genes whose overexpression can induce somatic embryogenesis as candidate genes to induce parthenogenesis, a unique reproductive method of gametophytic apomixis. We also summarize three schemes to achieve engineered apomixis, which will offer more opportunities for the realization of apomictic reproduction.
ISSN:1664-462X
1664-462X
DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.864987