The present invention relates to methods for promoting somatic embryogenesis from a plant cell, tissue, organ, callus or cell culture, by overexpressing a PGA37 gene in the tissue or organ. In one embodiment, such overexpression can be used as a silent selectable marker for transgenic plants. In another embodiment, such expression can be used to confer apomixis to a plant. In another embodiment, such overexpression can be used to create haploid plants, which can be used to produce dihaploid plants.