apospory: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely RareTechnical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “apospory” mean?
A reproductive process in certain plants where a sporophyte develops directly from a gametophyte cell without the formation of spores.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A reproductive process in certain plants where a sporophyte develops directly from a gametophyte cell without the formation of spores.
A type of apomixis (asexual reproduction) in plants, bypassing the typical alternation of generations by omitting meiosis and spore formation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage or meaning; it is a highly specialized scientific term used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
None beyond its precise scientific definition.
Frequency
Virtually absent outside academic botany texts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “apospory” in a Sentence
The [plant species] demonstrates [apospory].[Apospory] occurs in [context].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apospory” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The aposporous lineage was genetically distinct.
- They studied aposporous embryo sac initiation.
American English
- The aposporous trait is heritable.
- Aposporous tissue was sampled for analysis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in botany, plant science, and evolutionary biology journals and textbooks.
Technical
The primary and only context of use.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “apospory”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “apospory”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apospory”
- Misspelling as 'apospary', 'aposporey'.
- Using it as a general synonym for all asexual reproduction, rather than the specific botanical process.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialized and relatively rare form of asexual reproduction (apomixis) found in certain plant groups like some ferns and angiosperms.
It allows for the clonal propagation of genetically identical offspring, preserving successful genotypes without the genetic recombination of sexual reproduction.
Both are apomictic, but parthenogenesis specifically involves an unfertilised egg developing into an embryo, while apospory involves the sporophyte developing from a non-egg gametophyte cell, bypassing the spore stage entirely.
Exclusively in botany, plant developmental biology, and evolutionary biology. It is not used in general biology or other sciences.
A reproductive process in certain plants where a sporophyte develops directly from a gametophyte cell without the formation of spores.
Apospory is usually technical / scientific in register.
Apospory: in British English it is pronounced /əˈpɒspəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpɑːspəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'A-POS-PORY': 'A' (without) + 'POS' (like spore/position) + 'PORY' (pores/spores). It means development WITHOUT the usual SPORE stage.
Practice
Quiz
Apospory is best defined as: