Polyembryony in citrus: does the largest embryo in the seed develop a nucellar seedling?

A generalized concept in the Citrus genus is that highly polyembryonic varieties produce only a small number of hybrids. Small zygotic embryos congregate primarily near micropyle, while nucellar organize or away from micropyle. In present study, authors determined seeds, per seed, and largest embryo (LE) position five citrus cultivars: C35 citrange, Volkamer lemon, Amblycarpa mandarin, Minneola tangelo, Valencia orange. The percentage seedlings obtained exclusively LE seed was then calculated. polyembryony varied largely between genotypes, 65 to 98 %, mean ranged 2.9 4.6. chalaza contained up 87 % LE. Out 30 primers, 17 Simple sequence repeats [SSRs] (AG14, ATC09, CAT01, CCSM147, CCSM18, CCSM13, CCSM4, F2, F4, F6, GT03, TAA41, TAA45, TAA1, F7, F11 TAA52) identified plants identical female parent (genetic similarity index [GSI] value ≥ 0.95). This study establishes for first time relationship sexual asexual origin derived isolated seeds SSR primers described above. While cultivars had high levels, resulting differed Citrange, 45 15 orange, tangelo. seedling not always nucellar: species studied, produces 55 85 embryos.