NCERT · Class 12 · Biology · Sexual Reproduction in Flowering PlantsDefine apomixis with a suitable example.

Apomixis is a specialized asexual mode of reproduction that mimics sexual reproduction in flowering plants, wherein seeds are formed directly without undergoing the processes of meiosis and fertilization. In this unique phenomenon, diploid egg cells develop directly into embryos, or nucellar cells surrounding the embryo sac protrude and form embryos without fertilization. Apomixis is widely observed and studied in various species belonging to the Asteraceae family and grasses, such as dandelions and certain varieties of mango and citrus.