Synthetic apomixis: from genetic basis to agricultural application

Apomixis in plants is a widely existing biological phenomenon, in which seeds are formed without egg cell and sperm uniting. Hybrid breeding exploits heterosis to obtain seeds with superior traits. However, segregation of traits in the offspring greatly limits the widespread use of hybrid vigor in agricultural production. Synthetic apomixis is considered a desired way of clonal propagation of heterozygous maternal parents, which bypasses laborious hybrid process. In recent years, with the increasing understanding of the molecular mechanisms of plant meiosis and double fertilization, scientists have introduced apomixis to rice and hybrid rice varieties by genetic engineering of genes that are involved in sexual reproduction. In this review article, we will summarize the recent research progresses in the meiosis and double fertilization related to synthetic apomixis and provide perspectives on the potential application of synthetic apomixis in different crops and livestock pastures.