Zygotic or Suspensor Polyembryony

Cleavage of the apical cells of the globular or filamentous proembryo produced by the zygote may result in two or more embryos in a seed. This mode of polyembryony is also common among the orchids. Figure shows a group of cells produced from the zygote in Eulophia epidendraea which have developed into three distinct proembryos. In Figure an embryo is seen budding from a globular proembryo. In Zygophyllum fabago and in several members of the Acanthaceae buds or new embryos arise from the uniseriate suspensor of the young proembryo. The multiple embryos that arise from proembryonal or suspensor cells are diploid.

Figure: Zygotic or Suspensor polyembryony. A. Zygote has produced a pup of cells three of which have divided to form independent embryos. B. Budding of an embryo from a globular proembryo C. Proembryo with embryonal bud arising from uniseriate suspensor.