asexual reproduction is the formation of new individuals from the cell(s) of a single parent it is...
TRANSCRIPT
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
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