Apospory and Apogamy

Dr. Pervaiz Ahmad Dar

B.Ed., M.Phil., PhD, NET/JRF, JKSET
 Apospory
• Apospory is the process of formation of the diploid
gametophyte (2n) from the vegetative cells of the
sporophyte (2n), without meiosis and formation of
spores.
• Apospory in Mosses Discovered by Nathanael
Pringsheim in 1876
• It was first discovered in the year 1884 by Druery, in
the plant Athyrium foemina var. clarissima jones.
The aposporous gametophyte that has formed in this
variety developed from its sporangium stalk and
head. Pteris aquiline, Asplenium dimorphum,
Osmunda javanica are the plants in which apospory
 Factors regulating Apospory
• Aposporous development of gametophyte is
influenced by a number of factors-
• Nutrition: Nutritional and biochemical status of
medium determines the nature of callus.
Complete absence of carbohydrate in growth
medium induces development of Aposporous
gametophytes.
• Light intensity: Low light intensity favours
development of Aposporous gametophytes.
• Age of Sporophytic cells: The nature of tissue
regenerated by a sporophytic cell is highly
influenced by its age.
 Apogamy
• Apogamy (Definition)- Apogamy is a unique process of asexual
reproduction in ferns, in which the development of haploid sporophyte(n)
occurs from a haploid gametophyte(n) without the fusion of gametes.
Heinrich Anton de Bary, termed this type of asexual reproduction in ferns
as Apogamy, in the year 1878.
• In the year 1874, Farlow discovered the natural occurrence of apogamy in
Pteris cretica.
• Dryopteris, Pteris, Osmunda, Adiantum are the ferns in which apogamy
occurs naturally. Generally, the sporophyte which develops from
gametophyte, when the fusion of gametes occurs are diploid (2n).
• Apogamous sporophyte formation in bryophytes was first reported in detail
by Springer (1935) on the leaf and stem tips of naturally growing diploid
gametophytes of the moss Phascum cuspidatum Hedw. No other apogamy
of bryophytes in nature has been reported to date.
• In the case of apogamy, since sporophyte develops from a gametophyte
without the fusion of gametes, hence the sporophyte remains haploid(n).
Therefore, The haploid sporophyte (n), which develops as a result of
apogamy is generally infertile.
 Factors regulating Apogamy
• Nutritional Factors: Maximum number of
Apogamous sporophytes are obtained if the
gametophytes are placed in 4% Sucrose solution at the
initiative phase.
• Light Quality: Far-red light (705nm) has been found
to be the most effective in inducing apogamous
development of Sporophyte.
• Hormones: Presence of hormones like 2,4-D,
Gibberellic acid, IAA and Tryptophan stimulates
gametophytes to produce apogamous sporophytes.
• Chromosome number: Apogamy is more prevalent
in polyploid gametophytes than haploid prothalii.
 Difference between Apogamy and Apospory

Apogamy Apospory
1. In apogamy, the sporophyte in 1. In apospory, gametophyte develops
some plants develops directly from directly from the vegetative cells of
the gametophyte. the sporophyte.

2. The fusion of gametes does not 2. Apospory occurs without the

occur, which means it happens occurrence of meiosis or spore
without fertilisation. formation.

3. Apogamy occurs without syngamy, 3. Apospory occurs without sporic

therefore the haploid gametophyte (n) meiosis, therefore the diploid
develops into a haploid sporophyte (2n) develops into diploid
sporophyte(n), instead of a diploid gametophyte(2n), instead of a haploid
sporophyte (2n). gametophyte(n).

4. It is commonly seen in Funaria. 4. It is commonly seen in Anthoceros.