Harnessing apomixis: natural mechanisms and synthetic innovations for advancing crop and forage breeding

Apomixis, a reproductive mechanism that enables clonal seed production, generates progeny genetically identical to the maternal parent. In plant breeding, sexual reproduction can enhance traits through genetic recombination and hybrid vigor, yet trait segregation significantly raises breeding costs and complexity. Although apomixis occurs naturally across various plant species, it remains notably absent in major crops like rice and maize. Significant progress has been made in identifying the genes that govern this process. Recent breakthroughs in synthetic apomixis provide promising pathways for crop improvement. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of natural apomixis and its genetic regulators, with a focus on recent advances in synthetic apomictic systems. We also explore the current state and potential of apomixis in forage breeding, especially in addressing challenges related to self-incompatibility, polyploidy, and genomic complexity in forage species. Finally, we discuss the challenges in applying apomixis to forage breeding and future directions for this research.