Question

A small part of the shoot of a plant is removed with a sharp knife. When the lower end of this small part of  the shoot is buried in moist soil, it gradually develops roots and shoots and grows to become a new plant.
(a) What is the name of this method of propagating plants?
(b) What care should be taken while removing a small part of the shoot from the parent plant with a knife?
(c) Name any two plants which provide us with food directly or indirectly and are grown by this method.
(d) Give one advantage of this method of producing new plants.
(e) State whether it is a sexual method of reproduction or an asexual method. Why?
(f) What special name can be given to the genetically identical new plants produced by this technique?

Answer 1

(a) This method of propagating plant is known as cutting.
(b) While removing a small part of the shoot from the parent plant using a knife, one has to be careful about the fact that the shoot has some buds on it.
(c) Sugarcane and banana are those two plants which are propagated by this method, and are consumed as food.
(d) Using this method, many new plants can be produced from one plant. This is one of the advantages of this method.
(e) This is an asexual method of reproduction, as it involves only one parent and no gamete formation.
(f) The genetically identical plants produced by this method are called clones.