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๐ฌ Think about it
Have you seen a money plant grow from just a cutting in water? No seeds needed! Some plants and animals make copies of themselves from a single part. Let us explore this clever trick of nature.
What is vegetative propagation?
- Many plants can reproduce from a part of the plant.
- A leaf, stem or root is planted in soil.
- This kind of reproduction is called vegetative propagation.
- It is a type of asexual reproduction.
Example:
A money plant stem cutting, a sprouted potato's "eyes", or a piece of ginger can each grow into a new plant.
In this Activity, we will grow new plants from parts of plants and watch how roots, stems and leaves appear.
Materials needed
Stem cutting of a money plant, eyes of a sprouted potato, a piece of ginger, moist soil and a glass container.
Procedure
1. Take parts of plants like a money plant stem cutting, potato eyes, or a piece of ginger.
2. Plant each separately in moist soil, not too deep.
3. For the money plant, put a cutting in a glass container to observe easily.
4. Make sure they get water, air and sunlight.
5. Watch them every day and note how many days roots, stem and leaves take to appear.
6. Also observe when the first new leaf appears.
2. Plant each separately in moist soil, not too deep.
3. For the money plant, put a cutting in a glass container to observe easily.
4. Make sure they get water, air and sunlight.
5. Watch them every day and note how many days roots, stem and leaves take to appear.
6. Also observe when the first new leaf appears.
Observation
Roots, stems and new leaves slowly appear from the plant parts, even though no seeds were used.
Explanation
A new plant grows from a single part of the parent plant. This is vegetative propagation, a kind of asexual reproduction.
โ Summary
- Plant parts planted
- Roots and leaves appear
- No seeds used
- Asexual reproduction
๐ก Ever heard of ...
- Not just plants — microbes and simple animals also reproduce asexually.
- Single-celled bacteria and amoeba divide into two identical individuals.
- Some algae can regrow from small cut parts.
- Hydra grows tiny buds that break off and grow into new individuals.
- Planaria, a flatworm, can regrow from a small piece of its body.
Important Points
- Vegetative propagation grows new plants from plant parts.
- It is a kind of asexual reproduction.
- Microbes and simple animals also reproduce asexually.
โ Test Yourself
-
What is vegetative propagation?
View Answer
Growing a new plant from a leaf, stem or root of the parent plant. -
Give two examples of vegetative propagation.
View Answer
A money plant cutting and a piece of ginger (also potato eyes). -
How do bacteria reproduce asexually?
View Answer
They divide into two identical individuals. -
How does Hydra reproduce?
View Answer
It grows tiny buds that break off and become new individuals. -
What can Planaria do?
View Answer
It can regrow from a small piece of its body.
Important Definitions
- Asexual reproduction — reproduction where a single parent makes exact copies of itself.
- Vegetative propagation — growing a new plant from a leaf, stem or root of the parent plant.
๐ NCERT Question 12 — Discuss five examples of
Discuss five examples of vegetative propagation.
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