Question 2: Describe the different methods of asexual reproduction. Give examples.
Answer:
Asexual reproduction is the simplest form of reproduction in which only one parent is involved. It do not involves the meiosis, gamete formation and fusion of gametes. This asexual reproduction is also known as clonal propagation because of their genetically identical products.
The asexual reproduction in plants can take place by the following methods:
1. Vegetative propagation: It is the natural process that is found in many plant species. It is a process by which plant reproduces without the production of seeds and spores. In this growth of new plants from the plant parts (like bulbs, runners, stems cuttings, roots and leaves etc.) occurs. Tissue culture is also the method of vegetative propagation under the sterile conditions.
Examples: Tuber of potato, the rhizome of ginger etc.
2. Budding: In budding process a small part of the body of the parent plant grows as a bulb- like structure called ‘bud’ which then detaches and becomes a new plant or we can say formation of daughter individual from the small projection called the bud that arises on the parent body is known as budding.
Example: Yeast (unicellular fungi), Hydra etc.
3. Fragmentation: The breaking up of the body of a plant into two (or more) pieces on maturing, each of which automatically grows to form a new plant, is called fragmentation. An alga reproduces by the asexual method of fragmentation. An example of common alga is Spirogyra. Spirogyra is a green, filamentous alga plant which is found in ponds, lakes and slow moving streams. Spirogyra reproduces by the asexual method of reproduction called fragmentation.
4. Spore Formation: Propagules which germinate to produce new individuals are known as spores. There are several types of spores: zoospores, sporangiospores, chlamydospores, oidia and conidia.
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