Vegetative Propagation

Have you ever observed that when you cut a stem of any plant like a rose, and bury it in the ground, another rose plant grows? But how is that possible don’t we always need seed for any plant to grow? Apparently not! This is ‘Vegetative Propagation’. Let us study in-depth about it.

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What is Vegetative Propagation?

A mode of reproduction in plants in which a vegetative part, like the stem, root, leaves develop into new plant under favourable conditions is called vegetative propagation. It is also considered as a type of asexual reproduction as only one parent is involved.

Browse more Topics under Reproduction In Plants

• Asexual reproduction
• Sexual reproduction

Natural Methods of Vegetative Propagation

1. From Root

Tuberous roots of sweet potato and asparagus become swollen due to storage of food. This forms the new plants in the next season.

2. From Stem

Underground and subaerial stems are modified for vegetative propagation. Examples

• Tuber of potato is an underground stem which stores food. It has buds in the depression called eye which can give rise to a new plant.
• Rhizome is an underground stem that bears buds. Ex ginger, turmeric.

• Bulb is a small disk-like stem surrounded by scale leaves.It is found in onion. In this, a new plant can arise from the stem.

• An aerial stem of grass mint and strawberry may give rise to new plant by vegetative propagation.

3. By leaves

Leaves of bryophyllum bear adventitious buds in the Notches in the margin of the leaf. When leaf follows the ground beef buds grow to form the independent plant.

Artificial Methods of Vegetative Propagation

1. Cutting

In this method, the healthy branch having leaf Buds is planted in the moist soil. The cutting develops roots and grows into a new plant. Example Rose, bougainvillaea, sugarcane

2. Layering

 In this process lower branch of the plant is bent towards the ground and covered with moist soil. The tip of the branch comes out of the soil. After some days the roots are developed. The branch is cut and allowed to grow at a new place. Example Jasmine

3. Grafting

This is a common method used to develop new varieties. In this method, a branch of desired variety of a plant called scion is grafted with a plant of the same type having a well-developed root system (stock).After some days the tissues of the stock and scion join to form a new plant. Example: Mango.

Advantages of Vegetative Propagation

• It allows quick and easy propagation.
• Plants can bear flowers, fruits earlier than those produced from seeds.
• It is only the possible method of reproduction of such plants which have lost the capacity to produce viable seeds.
• The offspring is an exact copy of the parent.

Solved Questions For You

Q1. Pick the odd one out from the following on the basis of mode of reproduction and give a reason for the same.

Sugarcane, Potato, Rice, Rose

Ans: Rice. Reason being all others can reproduce by vegetative propagation

Q2. Radha and Ravi want to grow a Rose plant by the method of stem cutting. Radha took a cutting including two leaves whereas Ravi took the cutting between two nodes. Whose stem cutting will grow? Give reason

Ans: Radha’s. This is because Ravi’s stem cutting does not contain any nodes from where new leaves can arise.