Reproduction in Angiospermic Plants

Reproduction- It is a process by which new individuals of a species are formed from the
existing individual. Reproduction is one of the most important features of living organisms.
It ensures continuity of life as genetic material is transferred from one generation to the next.
There are two basic forms of reproduction.
1. Asexual reproduction
2. Sexual reproduction

1. Asexual reproduction
It is a method of reproduction for the production of new individuals from a single parent
without the fusion of gametes. The structure formed asexually may be a specialized (eg,
bulbil) or unspecialized portion of parent tissue which has separated from the parent. These
structures give rise to new individuals under favorable conditions.

Some characteristics of asexual reproduction are:

a. A single organism is involved without the production of gametes.
b. The individuals formed are genetically identical to the parents, so they are called
clones.
c. The cell divisions are only mitotic in nature.

In angiosperm plants, asexual reproduction is also called as vegetative propagation or

vegetative reproduction.

Vegetative propagation or reproduction-

It is a type of asexual reproduction, where the formation of new plants takes place by some
vegetative part of the plant like leaf, stem, root, or bud through regeneration. A vegetative
part, capable of forming a new plant, always possesses a growing point or a bud. In
angiosperm plants, vegetative reproduction takes place by two methods.

1. Natural vegetative propagation

Natural vegetative propagation takes place in nature itself, mostly in perennial plants. The
various methods of natural vegetative propagation are as follows.

a. Vegetative propagation by roots

Tuberous adventitious roots of sweet potato, Dahlia Asparagus produce adventitious buds
which are capable of developing into a new plant. Similarly, the roots of some woody plants
(eg, Dalbergia sisso, Albizia lebbak, Guava) develop adventitious buds on them. On being
separated from the parent plant, these roots readily give rise to new plants.

b. Vegetative propagation by stem

Underground stem:
The underground stems not only store food but are also the organs of perennation. The
perennating organs undergo a period of dormancy in adverse conditions and become active
and grow again in the next growing season during favorable conditions. Thus, they are
capable of showing vegetative reproduction. Some of the underground stems are:
 i) Stem tuber
It is a swollen terminal portion of an underground and lateral stem that stores a large amount
of food material in the form of starch. It bears several nodes called eyes. Each eye has a few
buds which give rise to new plants on sowing soil. eg, potato tuber.

ii) Bulb
It has a reduced flattened disc-like stem with several scaly leaves. It has a terminal bud at the
center which produces new plants. eg, Onion. In the case of Garlic, a bulb has several buds.
The buds are separated and planted to produce new plants.

iii) Rhizome
It is thick, and fleshy with distinct nodes and internodes. It has dry scaly leaves at nodes and a
bud in the axil of each scaly leaf. If the rhizome containing buds is broken into pieces, each
piece develops to form an independent plant. Eg, Ginger, Iris, water lily, banana, etc.

iv) Corm
It is the short, vertical underground stem that is fleshy and solid with distinct nodes and
internodes. Corms bear many buds in the axils of scaly leaves present on the node. Under
favorable conditions, buds produce new shoots using the food stored in the corm. e.g,
Colocasia, Crocus, Amorphophallus etc

Sub aerial stem:

i) Runner
It is a long, thin green stem with long internodes growing horizontally on the soil surface and
they arise from axillary bud. Adventitious roots develop at the nodes. It also develops bud at
the nodes which give rise to new plants after detaching from the parent plant. e.g. strawberry,
oxalis, grasses, etc.

ii) Sucker
It is a non-green stem present under the soil with short internodes. It originates from the basal
and the underground part of the stem. It grows obliquely upwards and gives rise to a new
plant or a leafy shoot. e.g Chrysanthemum, Mint.

iii) Stolon
It is like a weak, slender, lateral branch that bends downwards and swells and where it
touches the ground, the adventitious roots are given out. It develops buds at each node which
develops into a new shoot and soon grows into a new plant. e.g Jasmine, blackberry.

iv) Offset
It is a short, thickened stem found in the rosette form of aquatic plants. It produces a cluster
of leaves (rosette) above and adventitious roots below. It helps in vegetative propagation. e.g
water lettuce (Pistia), water hyacinth (Eichornia), etc.

Aerial stems:
The phylloclades of Opuntia and some other cacti are joined. Each segment has several buds,
sufficient water, and stored food. It can form a new plant when detached and placed in the
soil.
 c. Vegetative propagation by bulbils
Bulbils are specialized fleshy buds that form new plants after falling on the ground. e.g
Dioscorea, Lilly, Agave, pineapple, etc.

d. Vegetative propagation by leaves

Some leaves produce adventitious buds which gave rise to new plants. e.g Bryophyllum,
Begonia, waliking fern, etc. In the case of Bryophyllum, the adventitious buds are borne in
the notches of the fleshy leaves. When its leaf falls down a suitable soil, many of the buds
sprout and form new plants.

2. Artificial vegetative propagation

In this case, new plants are produced from vegetative parts of plants by the activity of human
beings. This method is widely used in horticulture. The common methods used for artificial
vegetative propagation are:

a. Cuttings
A cutting is a piece of stem, root, or leaf that has or can form one or more buds.
# Stem cutting- Cuttings are short lengths (20-30 cm) of the plant which when removed and
placed in soil with suitable conditions develop adventitious roots and leaves and grow into
independent plants. For the quick formation of adventitious roots special growth hormones
such as IAA, IBA, and NAA are applied in very dilute concentration quantities to the lower
end of the stem cuttings. Stem cutting is done in Roses, Sugarcane, Citrus, Bougainvillea,
etc.

# Root cuttings- In certain plants like lemon, tamarind, etc. root cuttings when put in the
damp soil give rise to roots and shoots and form new plants.

b. Layering-
Layering is the development of adventitious roots on a stem or branch while it is still attached
to the parent plant. The stem or branch that develops adventitious roots while still attached to
the parent plant is called a layer. Layering can be artificially induced in many plants. It could
be done by two methods.

# Mound layering
The lower branch of the stem is bent so that a part of the stem at a node is buried beneath the
soil. The apical portion of the branch is left exposed to the air to form leaves. The part below
the soil develops adventitious roots. Now this new branch can be cut from the parent plant
and planted as a new independent plant. This method is used in plants like Jasmine,
strawberry, grapevine, etc.
# Air layering-
It is also known as gootee. For this process, a piece of branch is scrapped or girdled by
removing a ring of the bark tissue. The injured part is covered over by grafting clay (clay,
cow dung, and finely cut hay) and then wrapped in a waterproof plastic or polythene bag. A
small quantity of rooting hormone powder is also placed at the cut end to stimulate rooting.
After 1-3 months, the root will appear at the injured region. The branch is now cut below the
bandage and planted.

c. Grafting-
Grafting is performed between two plants of closely related varieties or species. It is a
technique of transplanting a part of one plant onto another plant so that it grows as one plant.
The plant of which the root system is to be taken is called stock while the other of which the
shoot system is selected is known as scion or graft. Stem grafting or grafting by stem cutting
is done in such a way that the cambium tissue of both (scion or stock) comes in contact and
forms a cambium layer common to both. Consequently, the two, scion and stock grow
together. The place where they are grafted is covered with grafting wax to avoid infection.
The scion becomes a part of the plant into which it is grafted. This plant bears flowers and
fruits characteristics of the scion. At this junction of graft union of mass of parenchymatous
tissue called callus develops from the living cells of both stock and the scion which heals the
wound. This method is used for fruit trees like apple, mango, citrus, and rose plants. By this
technique advantageous features of both the plants can be taken.

The most common methods of stem grafting are:

• Tongue, slice, or whip grafting- In this method, the stock and scion are given
oblique or sloping cuts followed by an appropriate notch. This is done in such a
manner that the notch or tongue of the scion closely fits over that of the stock.
 • Wedge grafting- In this case, a V-shaped notch is given in the stock while the scion
is cut like a wedge.
• Crown grafting- In this case, several scions, which are sharpened at the base in the
form of a wedge, are grafted in a single stock.
• Lateral or side grafting- In this case, only one scion is inserted in a lateral slit.
• Approach grafting- In this case, both the stock and scion plants are injured at equal
levels and joined together. Grafting wax is applied over the area and plants are tied
together firmly. When the union has been achieved, the scion is cut from below and
stock from above the grafting area.
• Bud grafting- When a scion of a dormant bud from a desired variety is grafted onto
the disease-resistant rootstock, it is called bud grafting or budding. In this method, the
bark of the stock is incised to give a T-shaped cut and the loud scion is inserted into
the slit. Bud grafting is done in Roses, Apples, Peaches, Plums etc.

d. Tissue culture (Micropropagation)-

It is a technique of in-vitro culture of plant cells, tissue, and organs aseptically in nutrient
media to regenerate new plantlets. A small piece of tissue, particularly meristematic tissue is
grown in a suitable medium containing necessary nutrients and hormones. The tissue grows
into an unorganized mass known as a callus. Small portions of the callus age are transferred
to another medium, which induces the formation of embryoids and then plantlets. The
plantlets can be transplanted in soil or pot. This technique is also called micropropagation. By
this method an indefinite number of plants can be obtained, starting from a small amount of
parental tissue. This technique is used for the propagation of disease-free orchids,
Chrysanthemums, Asparagus, and other ornamental plants.

Importance of vegetative propagation

1. Plants that can't produce viable seeds such as bananas, sugarcane, potatoes, seedless
grapes and oranges, roses, chrysanthemums, etc. are propagated by this method.
2. Vegetative propagation is useful to get genetically identical populations (clones) and
to maintain and preserve a stock of selected varieties. Because the plants grown from
which seeds are developed sexually may show variations due to genetic
recombination.
3. It is a cheap, easier, and rapid method of propagation of plants that have long periods
of seed dormancy.
4. The cross-pollinated plants cannot produce seeds that will germinate to give rise to
plants exactly like the parents. In such cases, vegetative propagation is the only
method to get true to-type plants.
5. Superior quality fruits or flowers can be produced by the method of grafting.
6. A large number of disease-free identical plants can be grown in a very short time by
tissue culture technique.

Difference Between Stolon and Sucker

Feature Stolon Sucker
Type Sub-aerial stem modification Sub-aerial stem modification
Origin Arises from the base of the main Arises from the underground stem
stem
Growth Grows horizontally above or just Initially grows underground, then
Direction below the soil surface emerges obliquely upward
New Plant New shoots develop from nodes New plant emerges directly from the
Formation when stolon touches the ground underground portion of the sucker
Function Helps in vegetative propagation by Helps in rapid vegetative propagation
producing daughter plants along by producing new shoots near the
its length parent plant
Examples Strawberry, Mint, Grass, Jasmine Banana, Chrysanthemum, Pineapple,
Mint