Maharashtra State PSC Model Paper 3

There are several ways by which plants produce their offspring. These are categorized into two types: (i) asexual, and (ii) sexual reproduction.

• In asexual reproduction plants can give rise to new plants without seeds, whereas in sexual reproduction, new plants are obtained from seeds.
• Asexual reproduction
  • In asexual reproduction new plants are obtained without the production of seeds.
  • Vegetative propagation is a type of asexual reproduction in which new plants are produced from roots, stems, leaves, and buds.
  • Since reproduction is through the vegetative parts of the plant, it is known as vegetative propagation. 

Bryophyllum:

• Bryophyllum (sprout leaf plant) has buds in the margins of leaves.
• If a leaf of this plant falls on moist soil, each bud can give rise to a new plant.
• The roots of some plants can also give rise to new plants. Sweet potato and dahlia are examples.
• Plants such as cacti produce new plants when their parts get detached from the main plant body.
• Each detached part can grow into a new plant.
• Plants produced by vegetative propagation take less time to grow and bear flowers and fruits earlier than those produced from seeds.
• The new plants are exact copies of the parent plant, as they are produced from a single parent.