Description
Apomixis in Plants presents a comprehensive review of different aspects of asexual seed formation in plants. This is important in plant research since apomixis could greatly facilitate breeding in important crops. It is also interesting theoretically because it carries problems related to genetic variation and evolution to its extreme.
The book features a broad selection of topics, including a historical review of ideas and landmarks in the field; comparisons with other types of asexual reproduction in higher plants and with related phenomena in animals and related plants; a presentation of cytology and embryology of apomicts and the diversified terminology in the field; views on the genetic background of apomixis and environmental effects on its expression; and the interrelation between apomixis and other traits. Additional topics covered include classical and modern theories of sexual versus asexual reproduction; geographical and taxonomical trends in apomicts; ecological implications of apomixis, and a review of future possibilities for using apomixis in plant breeding. Apomixis in Plants is an important reference volume for researchers and students in all areas of botany, ecology, and plant breeding.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION. References. APOMIXIS AND PARTHENOGENESIS-A HISTORICAL REVIEW. THE EMPIRICAL BACKGROUND. Early Observations. Mendel on Apomixis. Pioneer Work. Biosystematic and Biogeographic Observations. EARLY THEORIES FOR APOMIXIS. The Necrohormone Theory. The Hybridization Theory. Gustafsson's Monograph. ADVANCES AFTER GUSTAFSSON'S MONOGRAPH. Genetic Background of Apomixis. Advances in Embryology and Cytology. Techniques for Studies of Variation in Apomicts. Apomixis vs. Sexual Reproduction-Progress in General Theory. ASPECTS OF APOMIXIS. Ecological Interest in Apomicts Increases. The Evolutionary Potential of Apomicts. Plant Breeding. PARTHENOGENESIS IN ANIMALS. CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMAL PARTHENOGENESIS. ARTIFICIAL AND OCCASIONAL (TYCHO-) PARTHENOGENESIS. PARTHENOGENESIS AND POLYPLOIDY IN ANIMALS. CYCLICAL PARTHENOGENESIS. EVOLUTION OF PARTHENOGENETIC ANIMALS. COMPARISON BETWEEN APOMIXIS AND PARTHENOGENESIS IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS. PARTHENOGENESIS, APOSPORY AND APOGAMY IN LOWER PLANTS. PARTHENOGENESIS AND RELATED PHENOMENA IN ALGAE. PARTHENOGENESIS IN FUNGI. BRYOPHYTES. APOSPORY AND APOGAMY IN PTERIDOPHYTES. POSSIBLE APOMIXIS IN GYMNOSPERMS. MECHANISMS OF APOMIXIS. SEXUAL AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN ANGIOSPERMS. EMBRYOLOGY AND CYTOLOGY OF APOMICTIC ANGIOSPERMS. Subdivision and Nomenclature Used in Our Text. On the Quagmires of Apomictic Terminology. "ON THE BORDERLINE OF APOMIXIS". TENDENCIES TOWARDS APOMIXIS IN SEXUAL PLANTS, AUTOMIXIS, ANDROGENESIS, HEMIGAMY. "Apomictic" Tendencies in Sexual Plants. Automixis. Androgenesis. Hemigamy (Syn. Semigamy). HOW APOMIXIS IS REGULATED. GENETIC BACKGROUND OF ESTABLISHED APOMIXIS-FACTS, THEORIES, SPECULATIONS. Background. Components of Gametophytic Apomixis. Early Models for Gene Regulation. Earlier Crossing Analyses. Modern Results and Ideas. Do Obligate Apomicts Occur. Control of Parthenogenesis-Genetical or Not? Diplosporous Apomixis in Taraxacum. Some Other Viewpoints. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, INFLUENCE O
