A bud on a sugarcane cutting. Image credit 10degreesabove.com

A bud on a sugarcane cutting. Image credit 10degreesabove.com

ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Reproduction in plants: Asexual reproduction/ Vegetative reproduction

 

  • Is also known as asexual reproduction
  • This takes place when plants reproduce without producing seeds
  • Such plants have modified stems, roots or leaves which produce new individual plants
  • The parent plant can thus produce new individual plants
  • Examples of such plants include potatoes, grass and sugar cane

Asexual reproduction in potatoes

Shooting potato tubers. Image credit yara.us

Shooting potato tubers. Image credit yara.us

  • NB Potatoes are sometimes grown from True Potato seed as thus are capable of sexual and asexual reproduction
  • In asexual production of potatoes stem tubers grow from a potato plant at the end of the growing season
  • Buds on the stem near the soil surface grow down into the soil
  • These growths then swell up with food reserves to form a tuber
  • Thus one plant can produce many tubers
  • Each bud can later grow into a new plant
  • Buds are also known as eyes
Potatoes can also be grown using True Potato Seed. Image wordpress.com

Potatoes can also be grown using True Potato Seed. Image wordpress.com

Asexual reproduction in rhizomes

Rhizomes. Image credit earthlink.com

Rhizomes. Image credit earthlink.com

  • Rhizomes are modified stems which remain underground and grow horizontally
  • A rhizome is an underground stem that produces a new plant.
  • New grass plants grow from the buds along the stem
  • The horizontal stems tend to grow quickly thus allowing the plant to spreading
  • Many grass plants and lawns grow and establish themselves in this way

Human beings and vegetative reproduction

Sugarcane cuttings. Image credit livestrong.com

Sugarcane cuttings. Image credit livestrong.com

  • Tubers and rhizomes are both natural methods of vegetative reproduction
  • Human beings use artificial vegetative reproduction method
  • They use cuttings to grow plants such as sugar cane
  • Sections of certain plants are cut and then planted
  • Each section that is planted must have at least one bud which can grow into new plants
  • In this manner one parent plant can be used to produce many individuals
  • Sugar cane in places like Chiredzi and Hippo Valley is planted and grown using this way

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page.