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Sexual Reproduction In Flowering Plants

Question
CBSEENBI12002094

(a) When a seed of an orange is squeezed, many embryos, instead of one are observed. Explain how it is possible. 
(b) Are these embryos genetically similar or different ? Comment.

Solution

(a) It is due to polyembryony. Occurrence of more than one embryos in a seed is called as POLYEMBRYONY. In orange, the nucellar cells, synergid or integument cells develops into a number of embryos of different sizes. eg : - Citrus.
* Sometimes formation of more than one egg in an embryo sac can lead to polyembryony.
(b) In such embryos parental characters are maintained hence they are genetically similar. In this process, there is no segregation of characters in the offspring (progeny).