Asexual Reproduction

Have you ever wondered how single​ cell​ organisms reproduce? They
are not animals, so they do not lay eggs or gestate surely? So let us
learn how do such organism and event some plants reproduce. Let us
educate ourselves about asexual reproduction and modes of asexual
reproduction.

​Reproduction

One of the characteristic features of all ​living organisms​ is the ability

to reproduce. After all, for a species to continue there has to be
offspring. Otherwise, it will simply end there. Reproduction is a
process through which the cycle of life is maintained. A species gives
rise to its offspring, which in turn gives rise to its offspring,
continuing this ​life cycle​.

Thus, reproduction enables continuity of generations. But, do all

species reproduce in the same way? Obviously not! There is a huge
diversity​ of the species that live on the ​earth​. So, even the way they
reproduce is different. When an offspring is produced by a single
parent, it is called asexual reproduction. If two parents are involved,
then it is called ​sexual reproduction.

Browse more Topics under Reproduction In Organisms

● Vegetative Propagation
● Sexual Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction

When new individuals form from the cells of a single parent, then this
mode of reproduction is called asexual reproduction. Here the
offspring that is produced is identical and are copies of the parent.
These similar looking individual, both genetically and
morphologically are called clones.

Asexual reproduction is quite commonly resent in different living

organisms. It is seen in both ​plants​ and ​animals​. It is common in the
case of single-celled organisms. The lower order of animals and plants
show this mode of reproduction, which has a simple body
organization.
Here, a single parent is involved, without the involvement of the
fertilization​ process. There is a rapid multiplication and growth that is
seen, occurring in a small period of time. The offspring are genetically
similar.

Modes of Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction can occur in various modes. These are discussed

below.

● Binary Fission: ​One of the modes of asexual reproduction is

binary fission. Mostly seen in single-celled organisms, the cell
divides into two halves. Each half grows at a rapid pace to
become an adult. Examples are ​Amoeba​, Paramecium.

● Fragmentation: ​In some multicellular organisms such as

Spirogyra, asexual reproduction occurs through fragmentation.
 Here, the parent body divides fragments, which develops into a
new individual.
​ ome organisms reproduce by budding, where buds
● Budding: S
develop on the parent body. Each new bud develops into a new
organism. Example for this is Hydra.
● Sporogenesis: ​Some organisms produce reproductive cells
called spores. These spores grow into new organisms. The
spores can spread through wind or through other animals.
● Vegetative Propagation: ​This form of asexual reproduction is
generally seen in plants, where a plant can grow a shoot. This
shoot, in turn, has the ability to grow into a new organism.

Asexual Reproduction in Plants

In some plants, new plantlets generally arise from the nodes. When the
nodes come in contact with ​water​, they give rise to nodes, thereby
resulting in a new plant. In Bryophyllum, adventitious buds arise from
the leaves. They originate from the notches present on the leave,
slowly giving rise to new plants.

Learn more about ​Sexual Reproduction in Plants and Animals here​.

Solved Question for You

Q: One of the following is not an advantage of asexual reproduction.

Choose the right answer.

a. Rapid reproduction.
b. No need for a mate.
c. High genetic diversity
d. Low resource investment in offspring.

Ans. “High genetic diversity” is the right option. Asexual reproduction

shows low genetic diversity.
Vegetative Propagation

Did you know that plants can grow and reproduce without ​seeds​ or
spores? Actually, plants can reproduce from stems, ​roots​ and even
leaves​. It is the process of vegetative propagation. Horticulturists use
propagation methods such as grafting and budding to even improve
the plants. Let us take a look.

Vegetative Propagation

Vegetative propagation is probably something very peculiar to ​plants​.

The very same feature is also exploited for the commercial value and
by avid gardeners who know their plants well. You don’t always need
seeds to grow plants. New plants can grow from older plants, through
the method of vegetative propagation such as grafting and budding. It
is a form of ​asexual reproduction​ seen in plants. Here only a single
plant is involved and the offspring that arises is identical, both
genetically and morphologically to the parent plant.

Vegetative propagation occurs through vegetative plant structures. In

non-vascular plants, the vegetative reproductive structures are
gemmae and spores whereas, in vascular plants, the roots, stems,
leaves, and nodes are the structures that are involved in the
propagation. You have learned about the meristem tissue in plants.
The same tissue helps in the vegetative propagation. This tissue has
undifferentiated ​cells​ which divide paving way for the growth of the
plant. From the ​meristems​, specialized permanent ​tissues​ are formed.

Types of Vegetative Propagation

Vegetative Propagation by Roots

In this process, new plants grow out of the modified roots called
tubers. Some plant roots also develop adventitious buds. These buds
grow and form new plants/sprouts under the right ​conditions​. These
sprouts can be separated from the parent plant and when planted in
other ​areas​, new plants are formed. Example – Sweet potato, Dahlia
etc.

Vegetative Propagation by Stems

Vegetative propagation occurs through stems when new plants arise

from the nodes. This is where buds are formed, which grow into new
plants. ​Stems​ that grow horizontally on the ground are called runners.
As these runners grow, buds are formed at the nodes, which later
develop the roots and shoots, resulting in the formation of a new plant.
Example – Cyanodon; Mint etc.

The round, swollen part of the underground stem is called a bulb.

Within the bulb lies the ​organ​ for vegetative propagation such as the
central shoot that grows into a new plant. Bulbs have a bud
surrounded by layers of fleshy leaves. A few examples include
Onions, Garlic, and Tulips etc.

In plants like potatoes, stem tubers are found. This part is the swollen
apical part containing many nodes or eyes. Every eye has buds. New
plants originate from these buds.

Vegetative Propagation by Leaf

Plants like Bryophyllum, Begonia etc., have adventitious buds coming

out from the notches of the leaves. These buds develop into new
plants.
Source – Wikipedia

Cutting

It is the most common method employed by gardeners to grow new

plants. A portion of the stem is cut and planted in the ​soil​, which
develops roots and further grows into a new plant.

Source – Wikipedia
Grafting

In grafting, two closely related plants are used to produce a new plant
that has the desired, combined traits of both the parent plants. One
plant is the stock, where the root system is taken and the other is the
Scion, where the shoot system is used. The scion is attached to the
stock of the second plant in this method of artificial vegetative
propagation. Grafting is used in a variety of plants like roses, apples,
avocado etc.

Budding

In this method, a bud with a small portion of bark is taken from the
desired plant. This is inserted into a small slit that is made in the bark
of the other plant. Both the plants are tied together and the buds are
not allowed to dry.

Solved Questions For You

Q: Vegetative propagation is mainly used for commercial purposes.

Explain.

Ans. The greatest advantage of vegetative propagation is that it

produces natural clones of the parent plant. The new plants that are
produced have the same genetic material. Therefore it is possible to
produce plants that have the same desired traits again and again. This
ensures that there is consistency maintained in the quality of the
produce. Hence, vegetative propagation is commercially exploited.
Sexual Reproduction

Most of the evolved organisms on the planet, like plants and animals
and various multicellular organisms, display sexual reproduction. This
is often considered the superior method of reproduction because of
variation and evolution that occurs. Let us discuss sexual reproduction
in plants and animals.

​Sexual Reproduction

As you all know, sexual ​reproduction​ is characterized by the fusion of

male​ and ​female​ gametes. When compared to asexual reproduction,
sexual reproduction is considered as a better mode as there is a
variation in the ​population​, along with the evolution of species.
Genetically speaking, sexual reproduction involves both the processes
of ​mitosis​ and ​meiosis​.

Something unique that is observed is that even though ​plants​, ​animals​,

and ​fungi​ are quite different from each other in aspects such as
morphology, physiology, anatomy etc., all these organisms display
sexual reproduction. The whole process also is quite elaborate and
complex, involving many stages. Let us learn more about the sexual
reproduction in plants and animals.

Sexual Reproduction in Plants

Plants have to complete the vegetative phase to reach a certain stage

of growth and maturity. It is only after this period that they can
reproduce sexually. The higher order plants, the reproductive phase of
the plant is characterized by the flowering. This flowering phase in
plants can vary from plant to plant.

In the Sexual reproduction in plants, the reproductive part of a plant is

the flower. The male and female gametes are produced by flowers.
Flowers mainly have petals, sepals, stamen, and pistil. Stamen is the
male reproductive part and has anther and filament. The anther
produces and stores the pollen.

The pistil is the female reproductive part and has the stigma, style, and
ovary. The style connects the stigma to the ovary. When both the
stamen and the pistil are seen in the same flower, then they are called
bisexual flowers. Otherwise, when separate, they are called unisexual
flowers.

Pollination, which is the process of transferring the pollen to the

stigma, can occur in two ways. It can be either through self-pollination
or cross-pollination. In this way, the male gametes are transferred to
the stigma of the flower, from where they reach the ovary.

Fertilisation occurs in the ovary, when the male gametes fuse with the
female gametes, resulting in the formation of the zygote. This zygote
divides further and develops into an embryo. The ovary gets
transformed into the fruit. This is how Sexual reproduction in plants
occurs.

Sexual Reproduction in Animals

There are different stages that animals, including humans, go through.
The juvenile phase is the phase of growth and development till the
animal reaches its maturity, after which it can reproduce sexually. In
different animals, there are some cyclical changes that occur during
reproduction.

In animals such as cows, dogs, deer, sheep etc., it is called the Oestrus
cycle and in mammals like humans, apes, and monkeys, it is called the
Menstrual cycle. Old age often signifies the end of the reproductive
phase.

Stages of Sexual Reproduction

There are three distinct events that occur here, which can be
categorized as Pre- fertilization, Fertilisation and Post fertilization.

Pre-Fertilization

This is a stage that occurs prior to the fertilization. The two events that
occur at this stage are gametogenesis and the transfer of gametes. In
gametogenesis, the gametes – male and female are formed. Gametes
are haploid cells and are distinct in males and females.
The male gametes are called the sperms and the female gametes are
the ova or eggs. The female gametes are non-motile while the male
gametes are motile. Transfer of gametes occurs when the male gamete
gets transferred, after which fertilization occurs.

Fertilization

The fusion of gametes is the most crucial step in the process of sexual
reproduction. This fusion of male and female gametes is called
fertilization or syngamy. As a result of this fertilization, a diploid
zygote is formed. Fertilization can be external or internal. Some
exceptions to this fertilization process are some lizards, turkeys,
honeybees, where the female gamete undergoes development without
fertilization and forms a new organism. The name of such a
phenomenon is parthenogenesis.

Post Fertilization

All the events that occur after the formation of the zygote are called
the post-fertilization events. The zygote divides through mitosis and
develops into an embryo. This development of the embryo from the
zygote is called embryogenesis. Cell differentiation also occurs at this
stage, where specialized tissues and organs are formed.

Depending on where the zygote develops, animals are classified as

viviparous and oviparous animals. In oviparous animals, development
takes place outside the body. Examples are reptiles, birds etc. When
the fertilized eggs are laid in a safe place, after a period of incubation,
they hatch into young ones. In viviparous animals such as human
beings, development occurs inside the body. After some specific
gestation period, young ones are born.

Solved Questions For You

Q: What are bisexual flowers? How are they different from Unisexual
flowers?

Ans. Bisexual flowers are flowers where both the stamen and the pistil
are present in the same flower. In other words, the male reproductive
part and the female reproductive part are in the same flower.
Examples of bisexual flowers are the following flowering plants –
Hibiscus rosasinensis, Pisum sativum, Petunia hybrida etc.
In Unisexual flowers, either the male reproductive part i.e. the stamen
is present or the female reproductive part is the pistil is present.
Examples are Papaya plant, Mulberry plant etc. In unisexual plants,
only the female plant bears the fruits and not the male plant.