The evolution of imprinting in plants: beyond the seed

• DOI: 10.1007/s00497-021-00410-7
• Publication Date: 2021-04-29T11:09:46Z
• Authors: Sean A. Montgomery; Frédéric Berger
• Keywords: Imprinting (psychology); Genomic Imprinting; Sexual reproduction

Abstract Genomic imprinting results in the biased expression of alleles depending on if allele was inherited from mother or father. Despite prevalence sexual reproduction across eukaryotes, is only found placental mammals, flowering plants, and some insects, suggesting independent evolutionary origins. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain selective pressures that favour innovation imprinted gene each differs their experimental support predictions. Due lack investigation land other than angiosperms with triploid endosperm, we do not know whether occurs species lacking endosperm embryos developing maternal plants. Here, discuss potential for uncovering additional examples plants how these observations may provide one more existing hypotheses.