Module: | Double Fertilization & Endosperm
Q68: Consider the following statements regarding true and false polyembryony:
1. True polyembryony occurs when multiple embryos develop within a single, shared embryo sac.
2. False polyembryony occurs when multiple separate embryo sacs develop within a single ovule, with each sac producing its own embryo.
3. Both true and false polyembryony strictly require the occurrence of multiple independent fertilization events to produce their embryos.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. False polyembryony occurs when multiple separate embryo sacs develop within a single ovule, with each sac producing its own embryo.
3. Both true and false polyembryony strictly require the occurrence of multiple independent fertilization events to produce their embryos.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: A
The correct option is A. Statements 1 and 2 are correct, whereas Statement 3 is incorrect.
Polyembryony, the presence of more than one embryo in a seed, is structurally classified into two main types.
True polyembryony happens within the confines of a single embryo sac.
This can occur causally via the cleavage of the zygote, or if synergids/antipodals abnormally develop into embryos alongside the zygote.
False polyembryony represents a different structural anomaly: the ovule itself develops two or more distinct embryo sacs (either from multiple megaspores or aposporous initial cells), and each sac generates an embryo.
Statement 3 is incorrect because true polyembryony does not strictly require multiple fertilizations.
If it occurs via cleavage polyembryony, a single fertilization event produces one zygote, which then physically splits to form multiple, genetically identical clones.
Polyembryony, the presence of more than one embryo in a seed, is structurally classified into two main types.
True polyembryony happens within the confines of a single embryo sac.
This can occur causally via the cleavage of the zygote, or if synergids/antipodals abnormally develop into embryos alongside the zygote.
False polyembryony represents a different structural anomaly: the ovule itself develops two or more distinct embryo sacs (either from multiple megaspores or aposporous initial cells), and each sac generates an embryo.
Statement 3 is incorrect because true polyembryony does not strictly require multiple fertilizations.
If it occurs via cleavage polyembryony, a single fertilization event produces one zygote, which then physically splits to form multiple, genetically identical clones.