Cypress Surrogate Mother Produces Haploid Progeny From Alien Pollen

摘要: Although most living organisms reproduce sexually, some have developed a uniparental reproduction where the embryo usually derives from female parent. A unique case of paternal apomixis in plants has been recently reported Cupressus dupreziana, an endangered Mediterranean conifer. This species produces unreduced pollen that develop into all-paternal embryos within seed tissues. We analyzed seedlings produced by open-pollinated C. dupreziana trees using morphological descriptors, ploidy levels assessed through flow cytometry, and AFLP genetic diversity. In situ (from Algeria) only diploid progeny. contrast, one-third progeny ex planted French collections were similar to seedlings; other haploid or sempervirens seedlings. These results demonstrate ovules allow for development another species, sempervirens. Thus, planta androgenesis is achieved combination embryogenic behavior grains ability tree act as surrogate mother. phenomenon offers opportunity produce, natural means, highly valuable material studies selection sterile cultivars.