Patterns of polyembryony and frequency of surviving multiple embryos of the Brazilian pine Araucaria angustifolia

摘要: The development of polyembryony is a common reproductive strategy in conifers. Multiple embryos are observed during early seed developmental stages. However, upon maturation, only the dominant embryo survives, with few exceptions. Although programmed cell death has been reported as major mechanism responsible for elimination subordinate embryos, genetics surviving and probabilities survival remain unclear. aim this study to determine patterns frequency Araucaria angustifolia (Bert) O. Ktze. Thus, we investigate morphogenetic parameters that might be related using nuclear microsatellite markers morphological characteristics immature seedlings. Our novel approach couples genotype analysis number presence dominance cotyledons present within single seed. Polyembryonic seedling was low (0.022%) 91% were monozygotic. From all monozygotic 98% showed differences growth rate (height) relation each other. Concrescent tissues (80%) but not those polyzygotic polyembryony. We demonstrate multiple rare event A. seeds. To best our knowledge represents first evidence cleavage seedlings from angustifolia. combined set successful investigating survival.