Apomixis in Angiosperms

Book excerpt: Apomixis is a difficult-to-analyse trait with a complex molecular basis and a substantive effect on the biology of a species. Thus, apomixis is an interesting characteristic for researchers and students working in different fields of plant science and agriculture, and technological advances are enabling and making apomixis studies more common. Apomixis in Angiosperms: Mechanisms, Occurrences, and Biotechnology provides a systematic introduction to the mechanisms and developmental types of apomixis along with an overview of alternative methodologies for identifying apomixis and a detailed reassessment of the occurrences of apomictic species among angiosperm families. Optional methods are illustrated with examples of all types of apomixis and biological levels of analysis, i.e. cells, ovules, seeds and offspring. Data on apomictic species are collected in tables along with information on ploidy, type of apomixis and references. Occurrences of apomixis are briefly discussed in phylogenetic and evolutionary contexts. An outline of the molecular basis of apomixis in plants is presented, together with prospects and challenges that remain for its biotechnological exploitation. This book: Provides a systematic overview of the mechanisms of apomixis, developmental types and methodology for apomixis research. Reassesses apomixis at the species level in angiosperm families. Contains tables summarizing relevant information on apomixis. Analyses occurrences of apomixis in phylogenetic and evolutionary contexts. Outlines the molecular basis and biotechnological perspective of apomixis breeding. This book presents an accessible overview of apomixis research and a curated dataset of apomictic species. It serves as a reference book for students, researchers and citizen scientists interested in apomixis, as well as researchers, business innovators and entrepreneurs pursuing apomixis breeding. It can also be used as a textbook in graduate courses on plant reproduction.