What is Polyembryony and Parthenocarpy?
Difference Between Polyembryony and Parthenocarpy Polyembryony: In several genera of angiosperms, more than one viable embryo in the seed has been observed. It is more frequent in Gymnosperms than in angiosperms. This condition arises in various ways: The oospore produces more than one embryo during development as a result of splitting. This is known as cleavage polyembryony and is very common in gymnosperms (e.g. Pinus) and angiosperms e.g. Allium, citrus, and some orchids. An ovule may contain more than one functional megaspore producing as many embryo sacs and oospheres which on fertilization give rise to more than one embryo in the seed. In addition to the normal embryo produced from a fertilized oosphere, the embryo may also be formed from the synergids (e.g. Dandelion) or rarely the antipodals with or without fertilization. (iv) Additional embryos may be produced as a result of saprophytic budding by the division of the cells of the nucellus (e.g. lemon) or in