ABSTRACT
This chapter considers breeding of crops with established apomixis, although references for further study are given in the text. It discusses agronomic traits, such as yield, hardiness, resistance, and biochemical qualities of varieties and introductions of the crops involved. The chapter presents indicate methods and techniques that have been applied to solve those problems which are especially connected with the handling of apomictic reproduction. In apomictic cultivars, genetic recombination and systematic cross breeding are difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. The cultivated or domesticated apomicts may be subdivided as follows: fruit trees and berry bushes; forage grasses with gametophytic apomixis, especially apospory of the Panicum type; and finally "rubber plants" of the Asteraceae, again with gametophytic apomixis. A permanent induction of apomixis would sometimes be desirable in crops that are sexually or vegetatively reproduced. Hybrid maize, produced mainly from inbred lines by the double-cross method, has been an economically very important crop.
