question_answer 62)

  What is polyembryony and how can it be commercially exploited?

Answer:

                  Polyembryony is the occurrence of more than one embryo in a seed. In many citrus andmango varieties, some of the nucellar cells surrounding the embryo sac start dividing,protrude into the embryo sac and develop into embryos, in such species, each ovulecontains many embryos.Polyembryony plays a main role in plant breeding and horticulture. The plantlets obtainedfrom these embryos are virus free and has more vigour. Hybrid varieties of several food andvegetable crops are being extensively cultivated and these hybrid cultivars possess highproductiviy.