Question

What is vegetative propagation? Give two suitable examples.

Answer 1

Vegetative propagation is a form of asexual reproduction in plants where new individuals are formed from the vegetative parts of the parent plant, such as stem, leaves, roots or bulbs, without the involvement of seeds or spores. This method is commonly used to propagate plants that have desirable characteristics, such as disease resistance, or to maintain a specific cultivar.

Two examples of vegetative propagation are:

1. Stem cuttings: In this method, a stem is cut from a parent plant and planted in soil or water. Over time, the cutting will develop roots and grow into a new plant with identical characteristics to the parent plant. This technique is commonly used to propagate houseplants, such as pothos, spider plants, and philodendrons.
2. Runners: Some plants, such as strawberries, produce runners or stolons, which are long, thin stems that grow horizontally along the ground. The runner produces roots at its nodes, forming a new plantlet. The plantlet eventually detaches from the parent plant and grows into a new plant with identical characteristics. This method of vegetative propagation is also used in other plants, such as mint, which can produce runners and form new plants.