Apomixis induces new species of Manihot*

Apomixis means production seed without fertilization. It perpetuates genotypes adapted to a certain environment. Genes of apomixis were detected in wild cassava and transferred to the cultivate by the senior author. A new species of Manihot species has evolved in our Living collection, at the Universidade de Brasília. Multiembryonic sacs were noted in its ovules. It bred true for four generations. Its maternal parent is M.tripartita and carried morphological characters that considered marker genes of M.cearulescens Pohl. Apparently it is an interspecific hybrid of the two species. It resembles M.tripatita in leaf shape and form, acquiring tree-like growth habit, fruit and seed size from M. caerulescens. It possesses interesting characters from the plant-breeding standpoint, such as tolerance to mealy bug.