• Plants can reproduce?asexually?as well as?sexually
  • Asexual reproduction only?involves?one parent?and all offspring produced are?exact genetic copies?of each other and the parent plant – they are?clones?(genetically identical)

   

• Asexual reproduction in plants can occur?naturally?or?humans?can?control asexual reproduction?in plants?artificially?for their own uses

Natural asexual reproduction in plants – runners

• Some plants grow?side branches, known as runners, that have?small plantlets?at their ends
  • Runners are?horizontal stems?that grow?sideways?out of the parent plant

   

• Once they touch the soil, these plantlets will?grow roots?and the new plantlets will grow and become?independent?from the parent plant

Some plants grow side shoots called runners that contain tiny plantlets on them. These will grow roots and develop into separate plants.

Artificial asexual reproduction in plants – cuttings

• A simple method to?clone?plants (mainly used by gardeners) is by?taking cuttings
  • This is an?artificial method of asexual reproduction

   

• The method for taking cuttings is as follows:
  • Gardeners take cuttings from?good parent plants?(i.e. those that are healthiest and best-looking)
  • A section of the parent plant with a?new bud?is cut off
  • This cutting can either be placed into?water?until new roots grow or can sometimes be placed?directly into soil
  • Sometimes, the stem of the cutting may first be dipped into 'rooting powder', which contains?plant growth regulators?(rooting hormones) that encourage new root growth
  • These cuttings are then planted and eventually grow into adult plants that are?genetically identical?to the original plant

   

• Plants cloned by taking cuttings can be produced?cheaply?and?quickly

Artificial asexual reproduction in plants – cuttings