Cytomixis--a unique phenomenon in animal and plant

Protoplasma. 2013 Oct;250(5):985-96. doi: 10.1007/s00709-013-0493-z. Epub 2013 Mar 10.

Abstract

Cytomixis is reported to be a uniform phenomenon in the context of fertilization during spermatogenesis of animals and in some lower groups of plants where oogamous reproduction prevails. However, the phenomenon is versatile in flowering taxa as it lacks uniformity in occurrences, causes, formation of intercellular bridges, involvement of number of cells in a cluster, evolutionary significance among others. A review on cytomixis is conducted with an objective that it may offer a scope to unravel some of the ambiguities associated with it and provide further information on cell, reproductive, structural and evolutionary biology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Male
  • Plant Physiological Phenomena*
  • Reproduction / physiology*
  • Spermatogenesis / physiology*