Viewpoints on apornictic and sexual reproduction in angiosperms

Abstract

Gametophytic apomixis implies different changes of the reproductive cycle of sexual plants. Each of these "elements of apomixis" occurs in sexual plants, which may even display functional diploid parthenogenesis. Thus, apomixis, like vegetative reproduction, is part of the reproductive behaviour of sexual plants, becoming important when sexual reproduction is impaired. The elements of apomixis are probably to a large extent under polygenic control.