Apomixis (asexual reproduction without fertilisation) is no longer regarded as a 'blind alley' of evolution, but rather as an alternative mechanism to the predominant sexual pathway, and that needs to be explored in many details to fully understand its role in nature.
Contents:
INTRODUCTION/ DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY and GENETIC CONTROL of APOMIXIS ( Nogler,G.: The discovery of parthogenesis: a long journey to the truth/ Curtis,M. & U. Grossniklaus: Amphimixis and apomixis: two sides of the same coin!/ Carman, J. G.: Do duplicate genes cause apomixis?/ Albertini, E. & G. Barcaccia: A review on apomeiosis in Poa pretensis L. and Medicago sativa L. mutants/ Ozias - Atkins, P., J. A. Conner, S. Goel, Y. Akiyama & W. W. Hanna: Genes linked with apomixis: identification and characterization/ Calderini, O., S. B. Chang, H. de Jong, A. Bietta, S. Arcioni, M. E. Caceres, C. L. Quarin, D. H. Hojsgaard, I. S. Donnison and F. Pupilli: Molecular cytogenetics of the apomixis controlling locus in Paspalum simplex/ Vijverberg, K. and P. J. van Dijk: Genetic linkage mapping of apomixis loci/ Matzk,F., S. Prodanovic, A. Czihal, J. Tiedemann, F. Arzenton, F. Blattner, J. Kumlehn, L. Altschmied, I. Schubert, A. Johnston, U. Grossniklaus, H. B#umlein: Genetic control of apomixis: preliminary lessons from Poa, Hypericum and wheat egg cells)/ MAINTENANCE AND SPREAD OF APOMIXIS IN NATURAL POPULATIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR EVOLUTION AND ECOLOGY (H#randel, E. and O. Paun: Patterns and sources of genetic diversity in apomictic plants: implications for evolutionary potentias/ Mogie, M., N. F. Britton and J. A. Stewart - Cox: Asexuality, polyploidy and the male function/ Van Dijk,P. J.: Potential and realized costs of sex in dandelions, taraxacum officinale s.l./ Voigt, M. - L., M. Melzer, T. Rutten, T. Mitchell - Olds and T. F. Sharbel: Gametogenesis in the apomictic Boechera holboellii complex: the male perspective/ Baraccia, G., H. B#umlein and T. F. Sharbel: Apomixis in St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): an overview and glimpse towards the future/ Nybom, H.: Unique reproduction in dogroses (Rosa sect. Caninae) maintains successful and highly heterozygous genotypes)/ EVOLUTION OF APOMICTIC COMPLEXES (Talent, N. and T. Dickinson: Apomixis and hybridization in Rosaceae subtribe Pyrinae Dumort.: a new tool promises new insights/ Bayer, R.J. and. T. Chandler: Evolution of polyploid agamic complexes: a case study using the Catipes group of Antennaria, including the A. rosea complex (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae)/ Noyes, R. D.: The evolutionary genetics of apomixis in Erigeron sect. Phalacroloma (Asteraceae)/ Fehrer, J., A. Krahulcova, J. Chrtek Jr., Rosenbaumova, R. and S. Br#utigam: Evolutionary aspects in Hieracium subgenus Pilosella/ Dobes,C., M. Koch and C. Kiefer: Apomixis and radiation at low ploidy levels exemplified in the evolutionary model genus Boechera (Brassicaceae)