Asexual Reproduction in Plants

Asexual Reproduction in Plants

Asexual reproduction is the formation of new individuals from the cell(s) of a single parent

It is very common in plants; less so in animals

Important points about asexual reproduction in plant

Asexual reproduction in seed plants is commonAsexual plant reproduction requires only one organismThe new plants have the same genetic structure as the

parentsSeed plants use different methods of asexual

reproductionAsexual reproduction is not as complex and requires

far less energyOrganisms that are genetically identical to their

parent are known as clones

Asexual Reproduction in Plants

RhizomesTubersRunnersCuttingsBulbsCormsCell CultureTissue Culture

Types of Asexual Reproduction

RhizomesPlants such as the

grasses, cattails and sedges produce underground stems or rhizomes

Buds produced at the nodes develop into branches that stay underground or develop into aerial shoots

If the rhizomes subsequently dies, a new separate plant will have been formed

TubersTubers are actually

modified rhizomesThey develop when

specialized stem branches grow down into the ground and swell up with starch containing cells

Buds of the tubers will grow into new plants

RunnersThese are

horizontally growing stems that produce few, if any, leaves

The stems, called runners, creep along the ground

The runners can be cut from the parent plant and new plants will grow

CuttingsCuttings involve

vegetative plants that have been removed and rooted in soil or other suitable material

Cuttings are made from stems, roots or leaves

A cutting or piece of carrot root can develop into a new carrot if placed over a container of water

BulbsOnions, chives and

lillies winter in the form of a bulb

Each bulb has a very short stem which is surrounded by fleshy leaves

In the spring, the shoot apex begins to grow using the nutrients stored in the leaves

Corms

This structure is similar to bulbs except that there are no storage leaves

The nutrients are, instead, stored in the swollen stem

Cell CultureSometimes just one cell

can regenerate into an entire plant

One cell from a carrot taproot is put into a tube of water with plant nutrients, the one cell divides and forms a bunch of cells under special conditions, roots and leaves develop, the small carrot plant grows into a carrot identical to the carrot from which the one cell came

Tissue CultureEngineered cells of some

plants can readily be used to regenerate entire plants under sterile conditions

Tissue culture works when the cell culture returns to an undifferentiated state

The process involves placing the engineered cells in an environment with special hormones and nutrients that encourage cell growth

Eventually the tissue culture forms leaves and roots and finally an entire plant

That's All I got for Today!!!!