Final answer:
Apomixis and automixis are both forms of asexual reproduction but differ in their processes. Apomixis involves the production of seeds without fertilization, resulting in offspring that are clones of the parent. Automixis may involve errors in meiosis or self-pollination, leading to offspring that may vary genetically from the parent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms apomixis and automixis refer to types of asexual reproduction but with distinct processes and outcomes. Apomixis is a method of producing seeds without fertilization, where the ovule or a part of the ovary, which is diploid, gives rise to a new seed. This is a mechanism by which some plants can bypass the genetic recombination phase of sexual reproduction, leading to offspring that are genetic clones of the parent. Common examples of apomictic plants include some grasses, dandelions, and blackberries.
Automixis, on the other hand, involves a modified form of sexual reproduction. It can occur through a process like self-pollination where an individual's own gametes, such as eggs, undergo meiosis with errors in chromosome segregation or fusion processes, leading to the emergence of offspring that may be haploid or diploid. An example of automixis is parthenogenesis, which is when an egg develops into an individual without being fertilized, and can result in either haploid or diploid offspring. This form of reproduction is observed in some invertebrates such as aphids and honeybees. While similar in their outcome of producing offspring without a second parent, apomixis and automixis differ in their genetic mechanisms and the diversity of offspring produced.