Asexual Methods of Growing Plants

Study Notes

Asexual Methods of Growing Plants

Natural Vegetative Reproduction

Occurs spontaneously in plants without human intervention.
New plants arise from axillary buds, stems, roots, or leaves.
Common vegetative structures include rhizomes, runners, bulbs, tubers, and corms.

Types of Natural Reproduction

Runners:
- Horizontal stems that grow along the ground.
- Examples include strawberries and ferns; can be cut for new planting.
Bulbs:
- Rounded buds with fleshy, overlapping leaves, like onions.
- Function to store food and propagate; easily transferred for growth.
Tubers:
- Thick, underground stems with scale-like leaves and "eyes."
- Examples include sweet potatoes; separating "eyes" can yield new plants.
Rhizomes:
- Underground or surface stems with nodes that produce roots and shoots.
- Examples include ginger and crabgrass; each rhizome piece can grow into a new plant.
Suckers:
- Upright shoots from buds at the base of existing plants.
- Common in bananas, bamboo, pineapples, and bird of paradise.
Plantlets:
- New plants that develop from leaves detached from the parent.
- Found in plants like Katakataka and begonia.

Artificial Vegetative Reproduction (Cloning)

Produces genetically identical plants to the parent.
Techniques include cuttings, grafting, marcotting, layering, and budding.

Types of Artificial Reproduction

Cuttings:
- Involves parts of plants (stem, leaf, root) to induce root growth.
- Commonly used across plants like sugar cane, cassava, and roses.
Grafting:
- Connects a stem (scion) from one plant to the stump (stock) of another.
- Widely used for santol, mango, lanzones, and calamansi.
Marcotting:
- Suitable for woody plants; encourages new plants on older ones.
- Classic example: citrus plants.
Layering:
- Promotes root formation on branches still attached to the parent plant.
- Involves covering the stem with soil until roots establish, then cutting it for planting.
Budding:
- Involves a T-shaped cut in the parent plant’s stem to insert a mature bud (scion).
- Commonly used for mango and santol; requires securing the scion to the stock until growth.

Description

This quiz explores the concept of asexual reproduction in plants, focusing on natural vegetative reproduction methods. Participants will learn how new plants develop from various plant structures without human intervention. Test your knowledge on plant propagation techniques and the importance of modified stems.