Question

A dandelion produces seeds without meiosis or fertilisation. The adult sporophyte forms diploid, rather than haploid, megaspores that develop into ovules containing diploid, rather than haploid nuclei. One of the nuclei in each ovule becomes an egg and develops directly, without fertilisation, into an embryo that is genetically identical to its parent. This type of reproduction is called ____________________.

• A. Parthenogenesis, which is a form of apomixis
• B. Parthenogenesis, which is a form of amphimixis
• C. Adventive embryony, which is a form of apomixis
• D. Agamosphermy, which is a form of amphimixis

Answer 1

The correct option is A Parthenogenesis, which is a form of apomixis

Apomixis (Gk. apo-without, mixis-mixing) is a mode of reproduction which does not involve the formation of zygote through gametic fusion. Apomixis is thus asexual reproduction. Parthenogenesis (Gk. parthenos - virgin, genesis - produce) refers to the development of an egg/ovum into a complete individual without fertilisation.