Question

What do you mean by Polyembryony?

Hint:

Polyembryony = multiple embryos from a single seed. Examples: Citrus, Mango (plants); Identical twins (animals).

Answer 1

Polyembryony is the phenomenon of formation of more than one embryo from a single fertilized egg (zygote) or from other structures of the ovule in plants and animals. Types of Polyembryony: \begin{enumerate} \item True Polyembryony: Multiple embryos are formed from a single fertilized egg. Example: Identical twins in humans. \item False Polyembryony: Additional embryos are formed from nucellus or integuments of the ovule. Example: Citrus and Mango show polyembryony due to adventive embryos from nucellar cells. \end{enumerate} Significance of Polyembryony: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Ensures survival advantage by producing more than one embryo.} \\ \bullet & \text{Helps in horticulture and plant breeding as nucellar embryos are genetically identical to the mother plant.} \\ \bullet & \text{Provides a natural method of cloning in some plants.} \\ \end{array}\]