Q.6 What is polyembryony and how can it be commercially exploited?
Polyembryony is the occurrence of more than one embryo in a seed. In many citrus and mango varieties, some of the nucellar cells surrounding the embryo sac start dividing, protrude into the embryo sac, and develop into embryos. In such species, each ovule contains many embryos.
Polyembryony plays a main role in plant breeding and horticulture. The plantlets obtained from these embryos are virus-free and has more vigour. Hybrid varieties of several food and vegetable crops are being extensively cultivated and these hybrid cultivars possess high productivity.
