Abstract: Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest extant lineages of gymnosperms, and many original characteristics and unique features of its reproductive process have attracted wide attention. Studies over the last 100 years have shown that (1) the male gametophyte has a long growth period, from periclinal division to anticlinal ring-like division to final division anticlinally into motile sperm with flagella; (2) after a long period of free nuclear and cellularization phases, the female gametophyte divides into archegonial initials that finally form mature archegonia consisting of 4 neck cells and 1 egg cell, through periclinal division, anticlinal division and oblique division; (3) the vacuole-like structure in sperm cells could be the carrier of some genetic substances during fertilization; and (4) proembryo formation includes a period of free nuclear and cellularization phases. This review of recent studies by us and other groups integrates knowledge of the development of male and female gametophytes, the fertilization process and embryogenesis to provide valuable information for further reproductive study of this species.

Key words: embryogenesis, female gametophyte, fertilization, Ginkgo biloba