Asexual Reproduction in Plants Asexual Reproduction in Plants

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

Asexual Reproduction in Plants Important points about asexual reproduction in plant � Asexual reproduction in seed plants is common � Asexual plant reproduction requires only one organism � The new plants have the same genetic structure as the parents � Seed plants use different methods of asexual reproduction � Asexual reproduction is not as complex and requires far less energy � Organisms that are genetically identical to their parent are known as clones

Types of Asexual Reproduction �Rhizomes �Tubers �Runners �Cuttings �Bulbs �Corms �Cell Culture �Tissue Culture

Rhizomes � Plants 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

Tubers �Tubers are actually modified rhizomes �They 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

Runners �These 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

Cuttings �Cuttings 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

Bulbs �Onions, 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 Culture � Sometimes 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 Culture � Engineered 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

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