Asexual Reproduction In Plants

• In asexual reproduction, part of the plant becomes separated from the parent plant and divides by mitosis.
• Runner stems are horizontal and run over the soil surface. The terminal bud of the runner sends up new shoots E.g. strawberry
• stem tubers are swollen underground stem tips with buds that produce new shoots e.g. potato
• Root tubers are swollen fibrous roots. The tuber stores food, but the plant develops from a side bud at the base of the old stem e.g. dahlia
• Tap roots e.g. carrot and turnip are swollen roots for storage but are not reproductive organs.
• Some plants produce plantlets along the edges of the leaves. These reach a certain size, fall off and grow into new plants e.g. lily
• A bulb contains an underground stem reduced in size. The leaves are swollen with stored food e.g. onion
• both the main bud and side buds will grow into new shoots.
• In plant propagation, parts of a plant are removed from the plant and are allowed to form new roots and leaves. They’re rooted in water, well-watered compost, or rooting powder. E.g. geranium
• In grafting, part of one plant is removed and attached to a healthy, rooted part of a second plant. Useful qualities from both plants are combined into one e.g. apple trees
• In layering, a branch of a plant is bent over and pinned to the earth at a node. When roots develop the branch is separated from the parent plant. E.g. Blackberry
• In micropropagation, cells are removed from a plant and grown as a tissue culture in a special medium. Growth regulators are added so that growing cells form a callus.