Asexual Reproduction In Plants

Asexual Reproduction in Plants involves using vegetative parts of a plant and causing them to regenerate into a new plant.  The new plant produced is genetically identical to the parent plant. Some common types of asexual reproduction in plants include vegetative propagation, budding, fragmentation, and Apomixis. It ensures rapid propagation and genetic uniformity.

However, the plant so produced is vulnerable to diseases and changes in the environment as it has limited genetic diversity. In this article, we will study Asexual Reproduction, Types of Asexual Reproduction, Natural and Artificial Asexual Reproduction along its Advantages and Disadvantages.

Asexual Reproduction in Plants

Asexual reproduction is a process of producing new organisms from the parent’s body. The reproduction process can be done through various processes like vegetative propagation, budding, fragmentation, sporogenesis, micropropagation, etc. For asexual reproduction a stable environment is necessary to perform the equal distribution of the genetic cells. A single parent or a single plant cell is efficient in producing genetically identical new plants.

There is no involvement of any sex cells or flowers, unlike sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction in plants comes with so many advantages as it allows rapid population expansion and preservation of the traits in favourable environmental states. But being genetically identical to the parent, traits lack genetic diversity.

Types of Asexual Reproduction in Plants

There are mainly two types of asexual production we can see in plants. Specifically if we say, there are two ways of asexual reproduction to produce new plants from the same plant.

• Natural Asexual Reproduction
• Artificial Asexual Reproduction

Natural Asexual Reproduction

Natural asexual reproduction is a process where plants produce their offspring without using their seeds. In this asexual reproduction, leaves, stems, and roots play a major role. There are seven types of natural asexual reproduction processes as mentioned below:

Binary Fission

Binary fission is a natural asexual reproduction where a single parent cell divide physically and genetically into two identical cells without any involvement of gametes. Each cell has a potential to grow and in the future, they will also go through the same process. Example: Proplastids and Young chloroplasts.

Budding

Budding is a process of raising a new individual through a bud. The offspring produced through this process will be genetically and physically identical to the parent organism. After a certain time these buds detaches from the parent and grow. Example: Yeast

Vegetative Propagation

Vegetative propagation happens when the stems, leaves, or roots grow individually and separate to raise new offspring. In this natural asexual reproduction, plants do not use seeds or spores. Example: Potatoes and Bryophyllum.

There are some common vegetative propagations as mentioned below:

• Stems: Stems are runners that grow horizontally from above the ground. Stems contain so many nodes that grow into a new plant.
• Roots: The tubers are the modified roots that develop into a new tree.
• Leaves: Some detached leaves can grow into new plants. Some small plants grow on the edge of these leaves, known as plantlets.

Spore Formation or Sporogenesis

In the process of sporogenesis, natural asexual reproduction occurs through spores. These spores are similar as seeds which gives birth to the new traits. This type of reproduction occurs basically in the eukaryotic organisms. Example: Ferns

Fragmentation

Fragmentation is a natural asexual reproduction process in which organisms raise a new life from their broken body parts. Each fragment grows into a new plant which are identical to the parent. It is a common vegetative reproduction process in plants. Example: Some aquatic plants like water hyacinths.

Natural Parthenogenesis

Parthenogenesis is a natural asexual reproduction where a female gamete develops without fertilization. The process is also known as virgin birth as the embryo develops from an unfertilized reproductive cell. This type of reproduction occurs generally in the lower plants. Examples: Nicotiana, Datum, Solanum nigrum, etc.

Apomixis

Apomixis is another asexual reproduction where the formation of seeds occurs from the maternal tissues. The process avoids the meiosis and the whole fertilization process. The offspring are genetically identical to the parent. It is a common asexual reproduction in higher plants. Examples: Hawthorns, Shadbush, etc.

Artificial Asexual Reproduction

There are four major artificial asexual reproduction procedures can be done by human interference as mentioned below.

Cutting

In this artificial asexual reproduction, a plant is cut along with its node and plant in the soil.In this process any part of the tree like stem, leaf and root can play the role of the parent. The environment should be moist and warm to complete this process. It is the cheapest process to perform artificial asexual reproduction. Regular watering is a must for this.

Grafting

It is an horticultural art of connecting two living plant tissue. In the process of grafting, we can join two different plants. After the process, these two trees will grow as a single plant. For the grafting we need to take a rooted plant that is known as stock and, another plant is the graft.

Layering

In the layering process, the stem will attach to a plant that is comparatively near to the ground and cover the joint with soil. It is an artificial vegetative propagation where the stem of a tree blended with the soil. The stem grows roots. After that, it will detach from the parent tree and grow as an independent plant.

Micropropagation or Tissue Culture

This process can be done under laboratory conditions for a short period only. In micropropagation, so many plants can be created from an ex-plant. This process promotes the growth rate of the endangered species. The process is also known as tissue culture, as it brought up the small pieces of the plant cells into a new plant.

Advantages of Asexual Reproduction in Plants

Advantages of asexual reproduction in plants includes:

• The new plant will have the same characteristics as the original plant.
• Through artificial asexual reproduction, we can create seedless fruits like, bananas or watermelons.
• Plants need less care at their early stage.
• A single parent can carry out the whole reproduction process.

Disadvantages of Asexual Reproduction in Plants

Disadvantages of asexual reproduction in plants includes:

• Artificial asexual reproduction portrays the lack of genetic diversities.
• As the new offspring are identical to their parent. For that, they are more susceptible to diseases and pests.
• The offspring have limited adaptability.
• These types of plants may involve patenting and intellectual property rights.

Difference Between Natural and Artificial Asexual Reproduction in Plants

The differences between natural and artificial asexual reproduction in plants. Here, we have mentioned some aspects on which we will differentiate both.

Features	Natural Asexual Reproduction	Artificial Asexual Reproduction
Genetic Variation	Offsprings are genetically identical to the parent due to limited genetic diversity.	Minimal or genetic variation. Offspring are clones of the parent organism.
Reproduction Speed	Generally slower than sexual reproduction.	Rapid and efficient reproduction. It is faster than sexual methods.
Resources Required	Apply fewer resources. The process does not require any seeds or pollinators.	Efficient resource. Especially when specific traits needs preservation.
Genetic Diversity	Limited ability due to lack of genetic diversity.	Offers the potential to select desired traits for specific environments.
Traits Conservation	Preserves desirable traits.	Allows for the conservation of specific traits.
Propagation Success Rate	Success rate is lower.	Higher success rate.
Labor and Expertise	Requires less labour and expertise.	More labor and expertise needed.
Costs	Generally lower costs.	Higher cost with long-term benefits.
Mutation Risk	Lower risk of mutations.	Generally low.
Biotic Dependency	Lesser dependency on external agents.	Independence from external agents.
Population Expansion	Slower population expansion.	Rapid population expansion.

Difference Between Asexual Reproduction and Sexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction is a process where a single parent produces genetically identical offspring. On the other hand, sexual reproduction is the process where two parents raise a genetically diverse offspring together. Here are some major differences between these two as mentioned below:

Features	Asexual Reproduction	Genetic Diversity.
Number of Parents	One Parent.	Two Parents.
Genetic Variation	Offsprings are genetically identical in nature.	Offsprings inherit genetic materials from both parents.
Types of Offspring	Genetically identical.	Genetically unique.
Reproduction Speed	Generally faster.	Takes more time and energy.
Evolutionary Advantage	Rapid reproduction. Lack of genetic diversity.	Genetic diversity.

FAQs – Asexual Reproduction in Plants

1. What are the 7 Types of Asexual Reproduction in Plants?

Binary fission, budding, vegetative propagation, sporogenesis, fragmentation, parthenogenesis, and apomixis are the different types of asexual reproduction in plants. Asexual reproduction in plants is a self reproduction process. In this reproduction process flowers are not required to produce genetically identical offspring.

2. Define Asexual Reproduction Activities in Plants.

Asexual reproduction in plants is a process where new individuals are generated from vegetative structures, such as stems or roots resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant.

3. What is Asexual Propagation in Plants?

The asexual propagation in plants generally takes the vegetative parts and regenerate them as a new plant. In this natural asexual reproduction, plants do not use seeds or spores.

4. What do You Mean by Asexual Reproduction?

Asexual reproduction is a process to produce new organisms from the parent’s body. Asexual reproduction in plants is a reproduction process where flowers are not required to produce genetically identical offspring.

5. What is an Example of an Asexual Plant?

Asexual reproduction is a process to produce new organisms from the parent’s body. Ginger, onion, dahlia, potato are the examples of asexual plant.

6. Are Flowers Asexual?

Flower are not only asexual in nature. They take part in the sexual reproduction also. But their main purpose is to sustain the process of sexual reproduction.

7. Is Self Pollination Asexual?

Self polination is not asexual. Self- pollination is a kind of sexual reproduction process. In the process of Self Pollination, two gametes are required and also involve meiosis.