HOW DO ORGANISMS REPRODUCE
Reproduction:
Reproduction is defined as the process in which an organisms produces it’s young ones. In other words it
may be defined as the production of new generation of individuals of the same species.
Types of reproduction
Reproduction is classified into two broad categories :
1. Asexual Reproduction
2. Sexual Reproduction
Asexual Reproduction
Asexual reproduction may be defined as that mode of reproduction in which gametes are not
formed, fertilisation and transfer of genetic material between individuals is absent. It involves only a
single parent.
This method is a common and rapid mode of reproduction. It mostly occurs in unicellular organisms
like bacteria, protozoa, etc. some plants like algae, fungi, bryophytes, etc. and certain multicellular
animals like sponges. In this method the young one receives all its genes from one parent.
Asexual reproduction occurs in following ways :
a) Fission
b) Fragmentation
c) Regeneration
d) Budding
e) Spore formation
f) Vegetative propagation
g) Tissue culture
Fission: It is the most common method of asexual reproduction such as bacteria, yeast, diatoms,
protozoans etc. It is the splitting of a parent cell into two or more than two separate daughter cells. It is
of two types:
1. Binary fission: That type of fission in which a cell divides into two nearly equal sized
daughter cells. The two daughter cells then grow into adult organisms. e.g., Amoeba
2. Multiple fission: The phenomenon in which a cell divides into more than two daughter
cells. Each daughter cell then grows to form a new individual. e.g., Plasmodium.
Fragmentation: This mode of asexual reproduction is found in some multicellular organisms with simple
body organisation. In this method the organisms reproduces by breaking it’s body into small pieces
called fragments. These fragments grow into new individuals, this mode of reproduction is called
fragmentation. e.g., Spirogyra (an algae), Mucor (a fungi).
Regeneration: It may be defined as the ability of an organism to regenerate its lost parts of the body
which have been damaged or removed. e.g., Hydra, Planaria.
Budding: Budding may be defined as the production of new individual form an outgrowth of the parent
individual. The outgrowth formed on the parent body is called as bud. e g, Hydra, Salpa
Spore formation: A spore is a single or several celled reproductive structure that detaches from the
parent and gives rise to a new individual. Spores are usually produced in a sac like structure called
sporangium. e.g, Rhizopus, Penicillium.
Vegetative propagation: Vegetative propagation in plants is a method of asexual reproduction in which
different plant parts other than seeds are used as propagules. This method is very useful in those plants
which have lost seed producing capacity or produce non-viable seeds like banana, grapes, rose etc.
Every part of the flowering plants such as root, stem, leaf or bus takes part in vegetative propagation.
Some most common natural methods of vegetative propagation in plants are:
1. Modified tuberous roots can be propagated vegetatively when planted in soil e.g., Sweet potato.
2. The buds present on roots can grow into leafy shoots e.g., Guava.
3. Underground modified stems such as rhizomes (e.g., Ginger), corms (e.g., Banana), bulbs (e.g.,
Onion, Garlic), etc.
4. Some plants develop adventitious buds on their leaves which develop into new plants (e.g.,
Bryophyllum)
Artificial methods of vegatative propagation: These are man-made and developed by plant growers
and Horticulturists for commercial production of crops. Some common artificial methods are :
Cutting, Layering, Grafting.
1) Cutting: The small piece of any plant organ (stem, root or leaf) used for propagation is called
cutting. Stem cuttings are most commonly utilised. A cutting develops a new plant, similar to
the parent plant. Examples Grapes, Rose, Sugar cane etc.
2) Layering: In layering, the roots are induced on the stem branches before they are detached from
the parent plant for propagation. Layering is done by two common methods : a) Mound layering
and b) Air layering.
Draw diagram 1
3) Grafting: It is a method in which parts of two plants are joined in such a way that they grow as
one plant. Grafting I’d done between two closely related plants The rooted plant in which
grafting is performed is called the stock. The portion of other plant that is grafted on to the
stock is called scion.
Tissue Culture: This method includes propagation of plants by culturing the cells, tissues and organs.
In this method, the plant cell or tissue are cultured on a sterilized medium containing nutrients and
harmones. A proper medium is important in plant tissue culture technique. The culturing results in
the formation of undifferentiated mass of cells, called callus. Callus is fast growing cellular mass,
which is the transferred to another medium for differentiation of plantlets. This technique is
employed for quick multiplication of commercially important plants such as Orchids, Dahlia,
Gladiolus etc.