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Sexual Propagation - Seed Structure
What does the term apomixis mean and what is its significance in seed propagation?
Apomixis is defined as the production of a sporophyte in the seed which bypasses the usual process of meiosis and fertiliztion. This results in the production of clonal seedling plants.
What is the definition of breeding true?
- producing progeny identical to the parent in at least one characteristic
- implies the loci that control the trait(s) are homozygous
Define the term cultivar.
- a cultivated variety developed by selection and/or breeding
- a population of plants that share distinguishing characteristics but that are distinguishable from other cultivars
What does heterozygous mean?
Heterozygous refers to having two different (dominant & recessive alleles at a given locus.
Explain the term hybrid vigor.
Hybrid vigor is a condition where the progeny of a cross (the hybrid) displays greater height, yield, resistance, etc. than the parents; or the superiority of the heterozygote (hybrid) with respect to the parents.
Define the term phenotype.
Phenotype is the external appearance of a plant determined by an interaction between the plant's genotype and the environment in which it is found.