What does apomict mean?
An apomict is an organism—most often a plant—that reproduces asexually through a process called apomixis, meaning it produces seeds or offspring without fertilization. In an apomict, the usual events of meiosis and fusion of gametes are bypassed, so the resulting seed carries essentially the same genetic makeup as the parent plant. The word appears chiefly in botany, genetics, and agricultural science, where it is central to discussions of species such as dandelions, hawkweeds, and many grasses. Botanists distinguish obligate apomicts, which reproduce only this way, from facultative apomicts, which can also reproduce sexually. The term derives from Greek roots meaning 'away from mingling,' reflecting the absence of sexual union. Its counterpart is the amphimict, an organism that reproduces sexually. Though obscure to the general reader, the word matters practically: because apomicts breed true from seed, they are valuable in agriculture for fixing desirable traits in crop varieties.
nounA plant (or, more rarely, other organism) that reproduces asexually by means of apomixis, producing seeds or offspring without fertilization or meiosis.
- An organism, especially a plant, that reproduces asexually through apomixis, forming seeds without fertilization.
"The dandelions on this lawn are apomicts, so every seedling is a genetic clone of its parent."
"Because the Kentucky bluegrass cultivar is an obligate apomict, breeders can propagate elite lines true to type through seed."
"In her thesis she surveyed which hawkweed species behaved as apomicts and which still relied on outcrossing."
Standard English plural; commonly used when referring to multiple individuals, populations, or species exhibiting apomixis.
"Most Citrus species include some apomicts among their wild relatives."
Some plants never have sex at all — dandelions and many grasses are apomicts, cloning themselves into seeds without pollen, sperm, or fertilization ever entering the picture.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apomict
The word 'apomict' was coined in the early twentieth century alongside the term 'apomixis,' drawing on Greek elements: 'apo-' meaning 'away from' and 'mixis' meaning 'mingling' or 'union.' Together they literally convey reproduction 'away from union,' capturing the essence of seed formation without fertilization. It shares these roots with the related terms 'apomixis,' 'apomictic,' and the contrasting 'amphimixis,' which denotes ordinary sexual reproduction involving the mingling of gametes.
Related word forms
How apomict is actually used
Strictly technical vocabulary used almost exclusively in botany, genetics, and agricultural science; it would rarely appear outside academic or specialist writing. The related adjective 'apomictic' describes reproduction of this kind, and 'apomixis' names the process itself.
Easily confused with apomict
Apomixis is the asexual reproductive process itself, while an apomict is the individual organism that reproduces by that process.