Asexual ReproductionIn Plants

One of the most interesting and important areas of horticulture is_________________________. All organisms, including plants, reproduce. Plant propagation is the term used to refer to the reproduction of new plants from seeds or ________________________ parts of a plant.

Asexual Propagation: Asexual propagation is the reproduction of new plants from the _________,_____________, or _____________ of a parent plant. In this method of plant production no seeds are used – just portions of the parent plant which are placed in soil.

plant propagation.

vegetative

stems leavesroots

Plant Propagation (Asexual Reproduction

Benefits of Asexual Propagation: The discovery of asexual propagation allows ______________ to produce more plants faster, especially in cases when seeds are difficult to germinate or plants produce seeds that are not___________. The plants also are from disease free stock. You cannot grantee that seeds are disease free. One of the most important benefits of asexual propagation is that the plants produced are _______________identical to the parent plant; therefore, they have the same traits as the parent plant. This type of plant is known as a___________. In some cases it can also be more economical to produce plants asexually rather than by seeds.

propagators

viable

genetically

clone

The two most common and often used unnatural methods of asexual propagation are 1) the use of __________. Cuttings are detached portions of the plant, such as __________, _______________, ________________, or ________________ that form missing parts to grow into complete new plants. Cuttings are classified as__________, ______________, leaf-bud cuttings and _____________ cuttings.And 2)____________. A cut stem of one plant (with good flower or fruit growth) (the graft) is taken and firmly attached to the rootstock of another plant (which has a strong, established root system) (the stock).Types of natural vegetative propagation are tubers, runner, rhizomes and bulbs.

cuttingsstems

leaves leaf-buds

roots

stem cuttings leaf cuttingsroot

grafting

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Definition Involves sex cells and fertilization

Does not involve sex cells and fertilization

Only one parent plant

Advantages/disadvantages

Offspring are not genetically identical to one another

There is variation in the offspring

Offspring are genetically identical to one another

Offspring have no variation

Vegetative Propagation

Vegetative Propagation

Runners• strawberries

Bulbs• onions.

Vegetative Propagation

Tubers• Underground stems that contain

stored food.• The eyes of potato can develop

into new plants.

Rhizomes• Long modified stems that grow

horizontally under the ground.• New plants grow off the roots.• Long grasses, ferns, and irises are

examples of rhizomes.

Vegetative Propagation

Cuttings• Pieces of a root or stem that in

certain conditions are made into new plants.

• Some examples are bananas, roses and sugar cane

Grafting• Taking a part of a plant and

connecting it to another one.• Combining the two plants.• Some examples are seedless

oranges and grapes.