Significance of Apomixis

Apomixis offers the possibility of indefinite multiplication of especially favorable biotypes without any variation due to segregation or recombination. In obligate apomicts such as mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) this advantage is enjoyed at the cost of long term evolutionary flexibility which is advanced chiefly through sexual reproduction. However, in facultative apomicts or groups of plants where sexual and apomictic members co-exist, the phenomenon is of special significance. There is much interest currently to induce apomixis in important hybrids to fix the vigour and to save the cost of hybrid production. There is already some success in forage grasses.