Budding: Definition, Examples, and Facts

Budding is a type of asexual reproduction, that results in the formation of a new organism from a growth or bud through cell division at a specific site of the parent’s body. The progeny produced is identical as only one parent is involved and no genetic variations or recombinations occur. There are benefits to the budding technique, including quick growth and the capacity to reproduce without the challenges of sexual reproduction.

Budding is seen in plants, fungi, and animals. In animals, budding is seen in hydra, and in Fungi, it is seen in organisms like yeast. A few examples of Budding in plants are seen in Grapevines, Roses, and Citrus trees.

Definition of Budding

Budding is a type of asexual reproduction. Budding is the formation of an individual daughter from a small bud on the parent’s body. The newly developed progeny produced by this method are genetically and morphologically homologous to the parent organism.

During budding, a cytoplasmic disruption takes place in the basal area of the parent body and results in the development of a new bud. The bud develops and grows by absorbing nutrients from the parent body. As it continues to develop, the newly formed organism remains attached. It separates from the parent organism when it matures, leaving behind scar tissue. The bud separates from the parent body after some growth and develops into a new organism. Few organisms, such as bacteria, yeast, protozoans, and cnidarians, exhibit this type of asexual reproduction.

Examples of Budding

Budding is a type of asexual reproduction that can be seen in both unicellular and multicellular organisms. Some of the common animals that reproduce via budding are:

• Bacteria
• Yeast
• Corals
• Jellyfish
• Sea Anemones

Different Mechanisms of Budding

On the basis of the site of bud formation budding is classified into types as follows:

1. Exogenous Budding
2. Endogenous Budding

Exogenous Budding

In this type of budding, a bud is formed outside the parent body, which matures to form a new individual and then detaches from the parent body, after it matures. Exogenous budding is a characteristic of yeast, which is a member of Kingdom Fungi. This detached bud is a genetically identical offspring because it acquires DNA and organelles from the parent cell.

A significant asexual reproduction method in yeast that enables quick population growth is exogenous budding. When yeast is utilized for fermentation and leavening, as in brewing and baking, it is an essential step in many industrial processes.

Endogenous Budding

Initiation of bud development within the parent cell marks the beginning of endogenous budding. In contrast to exogenous budding, the parent cell’s surface does not display an external bud. The cytoplasm of the parent cell is where the bud continues to expand and change. The bud goes through a number of developmental changes at this stage, including the replication of genetic material, the growth of organelles, and the building of cellular structures. As soon as the bud has grown to its maximum potential, it separates from the parent cell.

For example, Spongilla is a sponge genus that exhibits endogenous budding. Several buds called gemmules grow and mature inside the mother spongilla. Then, they emerge from the central cavity through an aperture and become self-contained individuals.

Difference Between Exogenous and Endogenous Budding

Following are few differences between Exogenous and Endogeneous Budding:-

Feature	Exogenous	Endogenous
Synonym	It is also known as external budding.	It is also known as Internal budding.
Bud development	Bud develops outside the parent body	Bud develops within the parent body
Example	Bacteria, Yeast, Protozoans	Sponges

Budding in Yeast

The fungi kingdom is mostly multicellular and consists of eukaryotic organisms. They are also heterotrophs and obtain nutrition via absorption. Yeast is a single-celled, achlorophyllous microbe that is a member of the fungi kingdom. Yeast are always larger in comparison to the bacteria and they normally have 3-4 µm in diameter. 

The following steps are involved in the budding process:

1. Small protrusion appears on the surface of the yeast.
2. The bud keeps growing while remaining attached to the parent body.
3. A copy of the parent cell’s nucleus is transferred to the growing bud along with cell organelles.
4. The bud matures with time and grows the same size as the parent.
5. After fully growing it detaches from the parent, creating two yeast cells.
6. Sometimes the newly formed buds remain attached to the parent cell for a long time and this forms a chain of buds called pseudomycelium.

Budding in Hydra

Hydra are multicellular aquatic organisms that are a part of the Phylum Coelenterata. It is very small in size, approximately half-centimeter long. Hydra has a tubular body with its mouth at one end, surrounded by stinging tentacles known as Nematocysts. The function of tentacles is to capture prey. The interstitial epidermal cells undergo repetitive multiplication, which causes a bulge that appears near the middle or basal section of the parent body in Hydra. This bulge develops into a bud later. The wall of the bud consists of the epidermis and gastrodermis. The gastrovascular cavity of the parent Hydra and the internal lumen of the bud develop simultaneously. 

Budding in Plants

Budding in Plants involves the transfer of bud from a specific region of the plant to the target location. Typically, buds are found at the tips of stems or within leaf axils (the angle formed by the top side of the leaf and the stem). With time the buds start growing leaves, stems and roots and sometimes they fall off naturally from the parent plant. Sometimes, they are artificially cut to propagate elsewhere. Grapevines are typically propagated by budding. This method is used to maintain and spread grape varieties.

FAQs on Budding

1. Define Budding.

Budding is an asexual reproduction process in which a new organism is produced from a bud of an existing organism. The new organism remains connected to the parent organism until it matures.

2.  What are the Drawbacks of budding?

Budding is an asexual reproduction process in which the offspring produced are identical to the parent. As a result,  there is no genetic diversity.

3.  What are the Advantages of budding?

Budding enables quick reproduction of a particular organism. In a short time span, a large number of organisms can be produced. Since the offsprings are genetically identical, they will have a higher chances of survival since they will be already suitable to the environment.

4. Mention Few Examples of Organisms that Reproduce via Budding.

Yeast, Hydra, Sponges, and certain Parasites reproduce asexually via budding.

5. What Type of Budding takes place in Hydra?

Hydra shows asexual reproduction via Exogenous budding. In this, a bud appears on the surface of an organism, which then grows into a new individual.