Artificial Methods of Vegetative Reproduction

    Reproduction in Plants

Artificial methods have been developed for vegetative reproduction.These are commonly used to grow many plants from one plant.The process of growing new plants by artificial methods is known as artificial propagation. Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new organisms arise without production of seeds or spores.It can occur naturally or be induced by horticulturists.

Grafting: Grafting is a method in which the cut stems of two different plants (one with roots and other without roots) are joined together in such a way that the two stems join and grow as a single plant. This new plant will have the characteristics of both the original plants.

(i)Grafting enables us to combine the most desirable characteristics of the two plants (scion and stock) in its flowers and fruits.

(ii) By grafting method, a very young scion (shoot part of a plant) can be made to flower and produce fruits quite fast when it is grafted to the stock (stem having roots) of a mature plant.

(iii) It enables us to obtain flowers and fruits having different desired characteristics by grafting scions from different varieties of plants on the same stock. Many varieties of mango have been produced by grafting method.

(iv) Grafting can be used to produce varieties of seedless fruits.

e.g.,Banana, Pineapple, Orange, Grape, Rose, etc.

                                                              

Layering: In this method, a branch of the plant is pulled towards the ground and a part of it is covered with moist soil leaving the tip of the branch exposed above the ground. After some time, new roots develop from the part of the branch buried in the soil. The branch is then cut off from the parent plant. The part of the branch which has developed roots grows to become a new plant (just like the parent plant). Jasmine plant (chameli) is propagated or produced by the layering method.

e.g.,Jasmine, Strawberry, Raspberry, Lemon, Guava, Hibiscus (China rose), Bougainvillea 

                             

Cutting: A small part of a plant which is removed by making a cut with a sharp knife is called a 'cutting'. A cutting may be a piece of stem, root or even a leaf. While making a cutting, care should to take to see that there are some buds on it.

In this method, a cutting of the parent plant (say, of stem or shoot) having some buds on it is taken and its lower part is buried in the moist soil. After a few days, the cutting develops roots; shoot, and grows into a new plant. Cuttings are a means of asexual reproduction in plants. The new plant formed from a cutting is exactly similar to the parent plant.

e.g.,rose, grapes, sugarcane, bananas, and cactus, etc.

                          

  Difference between Asexual Reproduction and Sexual Reproduction      

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