Analysis of Genes and Proteins of Spontaneous Maize Embryogenesis and Endospermogenesis

Angiosperm plants reproduce both sexually and asexually (by apomixis). In apomixis and gynogenesis (parthenogenesis), the haploid embryo and endosperm develop in the absence of pollination. This mini-review examines the genes and proteins associated with gynogenesis in haploid-inducing and parthenogenetic maize lines, gamete membrane interactions, and spontaneous embryogenesis and endospermogenesis. Changes in the three-dimensional (3D) conformation of proteins involved in embryogenesis and endospermogenesis in maize are presented in relation to spontaneous mutations in the nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding them.