Difference between Apogamy and Apospory

The key differences between apospory and apogamy is that in apospory, the gametophyte develops directly from the 2n sporophyte, while in apogamy the embryo develops without undergoing fertilisation. Apospory and apogamy are the two types of asexual reproduction in plants. In these processes alterations in sexual reproduction takes place. Both the processes are present predominantly in bryophytes.  

Apomixis is indeed the process by which a plant develops from a seed without the use of fertilisation or actual sexual reproduction. “Apomixis” is derived from two Greek words: “Apo” usually implies “without” as well as “mixes” implies “the act of mixing.” It is a form of asexual reproduction, but this is not the same as “normal asexual reproduction,” which includes propagation from clippings or leaves. Apomixis can be defined as the replacement of a flower by a bulb or the replacement of a seed by a plantlet. In higher plants, apospory is by far the most popular type of apomixis.

Apospory refers to the development of gametophyte directly from the cell of sporophyte without spore formation or meiosis. The sporophyte is mainly present in vegetative cells in plants. When gametophyte forms, sporophyte generations come to an end. 

The word apogamy refers to an asexual reproduction process in plants where the embryo forms without undergoing fertilisation. They have two types. 

1. Haploid.
2. Diploid.

Examples, where apogamy takes place, are Allium, iris and some other species. 

In apospory, the first diploid cell of ovule lying outside the embryo sac develops into another embryo sac without reduction. The embryo then develops directly from the diploid egg cell without fertilisation. 

There are two types. 

1. Generative apospory.
2. Somatic apospory.

Apogamy

This is an asexual reproduction process in the case of plants where the embryo forms without undergoing the fertilisation process. I’m those plants sporophyte develops from the gametophyte and sporophyte have the same ploidy level in gametophyte. 

Apospory

Apospory is an asexual reproduction process in plants in which the development of gametophyte happens directly from the cell of sporophyte without the process of meiosis or spore formation taking place. 

Sporophyte cells are diploid in nature. This sporophyte and gametophyte share the same ploidy level. This process does not involve the formation of a gamete. This method of the asexual reproduction process is mainly seen in bryophytes. 

Apospory and Apogamy: Similarities

• Both are asexual in nature
• Both take place in plants
• In both these phenomena, the gametophyte and sporophyte share the ploidy level
• There is no formation of gametes in these processes
• Both these processes mainly take place in bryophytes 

Apospory and Apogamy: Difference

Though apospory and apogamy are asexual processes, still they differ in their development process. 

1. In the case of Apospory, gametophyte develops from the sporophyte by fertilisation ,but in Apogamy, embryo develops without the fertilisation. 
2. In Apospory, formation of haploid embryo takes place but in Apogamy, it forms a diploid gametophyte. 

Extended Differences

Apospory, as well as apogamy, are 2 kinds of asexual procreation processes in plants. These processes are common in plants including such liverworts but also mosses (Bryophytes). The embryo grows without fertilisation in apogamy, which is a significant distinction between the two types of procreation processes at first glance. In apospory, the zygote develops directly from the 2n sporophyte. Continue reading to learn more about the differences that exist:

Apogamy, as well as apospory, seem to be 2 kinds of asexual reproduction found in plants. During fertilisation, however, both sexual and asexual propagation occurs. Apospory is a form of Apogamy wherein new trees are formed without fertilisation but using the dikaryotic cells of a previously existing plant. There is no new genetic difference in the species as a result of this process.

Apogamy is a unique asexual procreation process in ferns in which a haploid sporophyte(n) develops from a ploidy gametophyte(n) without gamete fusion. In 1878, Heinrich Anton de Bary coined the term Apogamy to describe this form of asexual reproduction throughout ferns.

Conclusion

Asexual reproduction is a form of reproduction that does not involve gametes. Apospory and apogamy are the two asexual reproductive modes in some plants. Apospory refers to the production of a diploid sporophyte. In contrast, apogamy refers to the process of developing a haploid embryo without fertilisation. Both these processes are important in the alteration of generations in plants. 

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