XVI International Botanical Congess

The ontogenetic autonomization is one of the directional processes of evolution. At the early stages of ontogenesis, in the zygote, already, the axon-specific developmental program exists, and the polyvariant determination of growth processes is characteristic for it. The potential multiple ability of the embryo to germinate is one of the examples of the determination. It is expressed in: 1 - relative autonomy, 2 - precocious germination, 3 - normal germination (of mature seed). The autonomy is peculiar both to zygote and somatic embryos. The species and morphophysiological correlations in the embryo and surrounding tissues' development, which have been established in the course of each plant taxon evolution. The embryo autonomy as a genetic feature conditions the universal ability of plants to viviparity and deserves especial attention of not only embryologists but also of geneticists, biotechnologists and others.