Haploid

What Does Haploid Mean?

A haploid is a cell or organism that has a single set of chromosomes that are not paired. The haploid gamete is normally produced during plant cell division. During fertilization, these cells normally merge with other similar haploid cells. A haploid cell only has half the number of chromosomes as are present in diploids.

Maximum Yield Explains Haploid

Haploids were first discovered back in 1921, when plant breeders and botanists conducted in-depth research to develop haploid cells. It wasn’t until 1967 that scientists Hitsch and Bourgin were finally able to obtain haploid plants derived from the Nicotiana tabacum.

Plants such as algae develop at least one haploid cell during their lifetime. In some plants like canola, sunflowers, cotton, rye, barley, oats, rice, and corn, haploids are deliberately obtained to encourage breeding.

Produced by meiosis, the most common type of haploids are sex cells or gametes. Because they are genetically diverse, these cells are activated during plant reproduction. In some cases, the haploid cells may come from parent donors. Consequently, the new plant becomes a diploid cell because it grows with a complete set of chromosomes.