The heterozygosity responsible for vigor can be effi -
ciently fi xed by apomixis. This phenomenon is defi ned as a
process in which plants produce seeds without fertilization.
In apomixis, female meiosis is bypassed producing
embryos genetically identical to the parent. Superior cassava
genotypes can be perpetuated indefi nitely through
apomixis, which is strongly associated with polyploidy in
cassava (NASSAR 2001, 2006)