Engineering apomixis in plants to stabilize intergenerational hybrid vigor

Abstract

Apomixis is the production of seeds asexually in plants, whereby clonal progeny have an identical genotype as the mother plant (1). In natural apomicts, mechanisms of reproduction are very diverse but carry potential for use in agriculture. If apomixis is engineered in crops it could be used to stabilize hybrid vigor throughout multiple generations without requiring continual hybrid crosses for seed production. Moreover, apomixis could unlock hybrid seed production in many species and lines where it is not yet possible. Here, I will discuss apomictic mechanisms and associated gene regulation and review research on engineering apomixis.