Apomixis is a type of asexual reproduction wherein the production of seeds occurs without fertilisation. Here, asexual reproduction mimics sexual reproduction. Polyembryony refers to the formation of many embryos from one fertilised egg. It is a type of sexual reproduction.

Difference between Apomixis and Polyembryony

The table below shows the main differences between Apomixis and Polyembryony.

What is Apomixis?

Apomixis is the formation of seeds without fertilisation. There are various ways by which it can happen. Sometimes a diploid egg cell is formed without meiosis or reduction division. This diploid egg cell then develops into an embryo. Offsprings produced by apomixis are genetically identical to parents because it is a type of asexual reproduction, and fertilisation does not take place. Depending on the tissue involved, apomixis is of two main types:

• Gametophytic apomixis – When an embryo arises from the unfertilised egg cell, it is called gametophytic apomixis. In this case, the egg is produced without meiosis. Therefore, it is diploid.
• Sporophytic apomixis – When embryos are formed from the sporophytic tissues, such as nucellus or integument tissues, it is called sporophytic apomixis or adventitious embryony. Nucellar embryony is seen in citrus and mango. Here, nucellar cells of an ovule develop into embryos. It is independent of fertilisation and sexual reproduction.

What is Polyembryony?

Polyembryony is the presence of multiple embryos in a seed or the formation of multiple embryos from a fertilised egg. There are many ways by which multiple embryos can be formed.

• Cleavage polyembryony – Here, the zygote splits and produces many embryos. It occurs in gymnosperms.
• Fertilisation of antipodals or synergids – Here, antipodals or synergids also get fertilised along with the egg cell leading to the formation of multiple embryos.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek first observed polyembryony in citrus plants. Here, multiple embryos exist that are derived from nucellar cells along with sexually-derived embryos. This sporophytic budding is called adventive polyembryony.

Polyembryony occurs in vertebrates and invertebrates. Identical twins are the result of polyembryony in humans.

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