Polyembryony

[1][2] The genetic difference between the offspring and the parents, but the similarity among siblings, are significant distinctions between polyembryony and the process of budding and typical sexual reproduction.

[9] Polyembryonic wasps from the Hymenoptera group can be further subdivided into four families including Braconidae (Macrocentrus), Platygastridae (Platygaster), Encyrtidae (Copidosoma), and Dryinidae.

[1] The mechanism underlying the phenomenon of a resulting single (or in some cases a few) offspring is described in Pinus sylvestris to be programmed cell death (PCD), which removes all but one embryo.

[11][12] Antonie van Leeuwenhoek first described polyembryony in 1719 when the seed in Citrus was observed to have two germinating embryos.

[11] The variation within the species of citrus is based on the amount of embryos that develop, the impact of the environment, and gene expression.

[12] As with other species, due to the many embryos developing in close proximity, competition occurs, which can cause variation in seed success or vigor.