Maharashtra State Board: Class 10, 12
CISCE: Class 12
Definition: Vegetative Reproduction or Vegetative Propagation
When plants reproduce using vegetative parts like root, stem, leaf, or bud to form a new plant, it is called vegetative propagation.
or
Regeneration of new plants from a part of the vegetative organ is called vegetative reproduction or vegetative propagation.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
Introduction
- Vegetative propagation is the formation of a new plant from vegetative parts such as root, stem, leaf, or bud.
- It is also defined as regeneration of new plants from a part of the vegetative organ.
- It is an asexual method of reproduction in plants.
- New plants formed by this method are genetically identical to the parent plant.
- A population of genetically identical plants derived from one individual is called a clone.
- This method is used to multiply fresh stocks of plants in agriculture and horticulture.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- It is a rapid, easier, and less expensive method of multiplying plants.
- It is useful for plants with poor seed viability or prolonged seed dormancy.
- It helps propagate plants like banana, seedless grapes, oranges, and rose, which have lost the capacity to produce seeds through sexual reproduction.
- In plants like mango, citrus, and litchi, it helps preserve unique characters because the new plants are exact genetic copies of the parent.
- Artificial vegetative propagation helps in quick multiplication of desirable and economically important varieties.
- Fruit yield can be increased by grafting high-yielding varieties on stocks better adapted to a particular region.
- Micropropagation is useful for raising disease-free plants.
Disadvantages
- Vegetative propagules decay easily.
- They are prone to diseases.
- No variations are produced.
- Lack of dispersal causes overcrowding.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
Key Points: Vegetative Reproduction or Vegetative Propagation
- Vegetative propagation is an asexual method where a new plant regenerates from root, stem, leaf, or bud, forming offspring genetically identical to the parent (a clone).
- It is rapid, easy, and inexpensive, useful for plants with poor seed viability or that cannot form seeds, like banana, seedless grapes, and rose.
- It preserves the parent's characters (mango, citrus, litchi) and aids grafting and disease-free micropropagation.
- Drawbacks: propagules decay easily, are prone to disease, show no variation, and cause overcrowding due to poor dispersal.
