Question

The best example of polyembryo is
A. Cocos
B. Pea
C. Capsicum
D. Pinus

Answer 1

Polyembryo is the phenomenon of development of many embryos from a single ovum. Polyembryo is mostly observed in coniferales. Pinus is a coniferous. Embryo of pea plant directly develops into seed and completely consumed.

Complete answer:
Polyembryo is the phenomenon in which two or embryos develop from a single fertilized egg. Antonie von Leeuwenhoek first described polyembryony in 1719. Embryos are identical to each other as they are formed from the same egg but they are genetically diverse from the parents. It is similar to the budding. Polyembryo occurs in many species of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. In plants, around 20 genera of gymnosperms undergo polyembryo.
In pinus sylvestris, polyembryo occurs due to formation of many embryos. The phenomenon which results in single offspring occurs in pinus involving programmed cell death. All the embryos can develop into full seeds, but during the early stages of development, one embryo becomes dominant. It becomes the dormant seed and the other embryos are destroyed through PCD.
Pea plant is a non-endospermic plant, the embryo is completely consumed. Embryo becomes seed and that can be planted to produce a new pea plant.
From the above information we know that pinus is the best example of polyembryo.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Polyembryo can occur in humans too, which results in identical twins. Reproduction in pea plants occurs by self pollination, in which pollen produced by a flower fertilizes eggs in the same flower. Genus Citrus has a number of species that undergo polyembryo. Polyembryo can of different types: Cleavage, simple, rosette polyembryo.