Glossary

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Haploid

with a single set of chromosomes

Haploid cells have only one set of chromosomes. They occur as a result of meiosis when gametes (pollen and egg cells) develop in the flowering parts of a plant to produce offspring. The homologous chromosomes from the parent cells are randomly distributed to the gametes. Following pollination and fertilisation, two gametes fuse to form an embryo with two sets of chromosomes. The embryo then undergoes a resting phase in the seed, and grows into a plant following germination.

In some plant species, haploid plants can be regenerated from gametes (e.g. pollen) in in vitro conditions. This is exploited in haploid breeding.