Asexual Plant Propagation: Methods, Structures, and Applications

What is a key benefit of asexual plant reproduction?

It does not require the investment needed to produce flowers, attract pollinators, or find means of seed dispersal.

What type of plants are produced through asexual reproduction?

Plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant.

Why do asexually reproduced plants generally survive better under stable environmental conditions?

They carry genes identical to those of their parents.

What are the two methods of vegetative propagation?

Natural and artificial means.

What does vegetative propagation involve?

The development of a plant from parts of a single mature plant.

What is a tulip bulb?

A type of asexual reproductive structure that consists of layers of modified leaves surrounding an underground stem.

How does a garlic corm differ from a tulip bulb?

A garlic corm is solid tissue, while a tulip bulb consists of layers of modified leaves.

What are rhizomes, and which plant forms them?

Ginger forms rhizomes, which are masses of stems that can give rise to multiple plants.

What are potato tubers, and how do they reproduce?

Fleshy stem tubers formed by potato plants, where each eye can give rise to a new plant.

What are strawberry stolons?

Stems that grow at the soil surface or just below ground and can give rise to new plants.

When is the BIOL*1050 EXAM 1 scheduled?

On Fri. September 26 during class time.

How many questions will be on the BIOL*1050 EXAM 1?

30 multiple choice questions.

What content will the BIOL*1050 EXAM 1 cover?

All Module 1 lecture material and reading material up to the end of class on Sept. 22.

What is scheduled for Wed. Sept. 24 in relation to the exam?

A partial review covering Emerging Trends.

What is asexual reproduction?

A form of reproduction that involves only one parent, allowing for offspring to be produced without the need for fertilization.

What is one advantage of asexual reproduction?

It allows any isolated individual to produce offspring and populate a new area.

How does asexual reproduction compare to sexual reproduction in terms of speed?

Asexual reproduction generates offspring faster than sexual reproduction.

Why is asexual reproduction considered less costly metabolically?

It does not require the investment in reproductive tissues like flowers, which are necessary for sexual reproduction.

What is natural vegetative propagation?

A process where plants grow and reproduce asexually without human intervention, producing new plants from vegetative structures.

What are some structures that enable natural vegetative propagation?

Roots, stems, and leaves.

What are runners in plant propagation?

Long stems that grow along the soil's surface, producing new plants at nodes where they touch the ground.

Give an example of a plant that propagates through runners.

Strawberries.

What are rhizomes?

Modified stems that grow horizontally and can produce new plants from segments.

Name a plant that propagates through rhizomes.

Bamboo.

What are bulbs?

Shortened underground storage structures that produce smaller buds which can develop into new plants.

Provide an example of a plant that grows from bulbs.

Tulips.

What are corms?

Swollen underground stems that can remain dormant and grow into new plants under favorable conditions.

What is the difference between stem tubers and root tubers?

Stem tubers are swollen parts of the stem, while root tubers are swollen roots.

What is a sucker in plant propagation?

A vegetative stem structure that grows from an underground stem and can develop into a new plant.

What is artificial vegetative propagation?

A type of plant reproduction that involves human intervention to clone plants with desirable qualities.

List some common methods of artificial vegetative propagation.

Cutting, layering, division, grafting, and tissue culturing.

What is the role of cuttings in plant propagation?

Cuttings are sections of a plant that can root and grow into a new plant.

What is the significance of the potato tuber in asexual reproduction?

Potato tubers have eyes that can sprout into new shoots, allowing for the production of new plants.

What are adventitious roots?

Roots that appear on stems and leaves, often at the nodes where buds are located.

What is the function of lateral buds in bulbs?

They develop into smaller bulbs that can be separated and planted.

How do cormels relate to corms?

Cormels are daughter corms that grow on mature corms and can be separated to produce new plants.

What is the advantage of vegetative propagation for plants?

It allows for rapid reproduction and the establishment of new plants that are genetically identical to the parent.

What is the primary benefit of asexual reproduction in invasive species?

It enables them to dominate landscapes quickly due to rapid reproduction.

What conditions are generally required for successful cutting propagation?

Humid, warm, and partially shaded conditions.

What is the role of rooting hormone Auxin in plant propagation?

Auxin encourages root growth and can increase the success rate of plant growth.

What is the purpose of applying indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in plant propagation?

IBA is used to promote root formation through the signaling activity of plant hormone auxins.

What is layering in plant propagation?

A technique where branches or stems are bent to touch the ground and covered with soil to encourage rooting.

What is air layering (marcotting)?

A method where roots are induced to grow on a stem by wounding the branch and applying a moisture-retaining medium.

What is division in horticulture?

A method of asexual propagation where a mature perennial plant is broken into two or more parts, keeping the root and crown intact.

Which types of plants are best suited for division?

Mature perennial plants, such as daylilies, are best suited for division.

What is the significance of using a sharp knife during the division process?

A sharp knife is used to cut or pull apart the clump of roots without damaging them.

What is the preferred time to divide daylilies?

Daylilies should be divided in spring or fall when they stop blooming vigorously.

What is protoplast isolation in tissue culture techniques?

A method used to obtain virus-free plants by isolating the protoplasts from plant cells.

What role do auxins and cytokinins play in tissue culture?

Auxins promote root growth while cytokinins promote shoot growth in tissue culture.

What is the advantage of using tissue culture techniques?

Tissue culture allows for the propagation of virus-free plants and can produce large quantities of plants in a controlled environment.

What types of plants can be propagated through cutting?

Plants like willow, blackberry, and pelargoniums can be propagated through cutting.

What is the importance of humidity in cutting propagation?

High humidity environments are crucial for the success of cuttings to root and grow.

What is the method of soaking yellow-tipped shoots of a weeping willow tree used for?

It is a natural method of propagation where the shoots are soaked in water to encourage rooting.

What is the purpose of covering the wound in air layering?

The wound is covered with a moisture-retaining medium to promote root growth.

What is the benefit of using a moisture barrier in air layering?

A moisture barrier helps retain moisture around the rooting medium, enhancing root development.

What is a key requirement for dividing plants?

Each separate section must have both shoots and roots.

When is the best time for plant division?

The best seasons are Spring and Autumn.

What is grafting in plant reproduction?

Grafting is an artificial method of asexual reproduction used to produce plants combining favorable stem and root characteristics.

Name some plants commonly produced through grafting.

Roses, grapes, temperate fruit trees, citrus species, and other plants.

What is a scion in grafting?

A desired cutting that is attached to the stem of another plant, called the stock.

What materials are needed for grafting?

Scions, rootstocks, and a sharp knife, with optional materials like grafting wax, rubber bud strips, and grafting tape.

Why is a sharp knife important in grafting?

Using a dull knife can lead to serious injury.

What is chip budding?

Chip budding is a grafting technique used whenever mature buds are present, often done in spring before growth starts.

What is the procedure for chip budding?

Make a cut below the bud at an angle, then cut above the bud inward and downward to intersect the first cut, matching it on the stock.

What should be done after inserting a bud in chip budding?

Wrap the cut edges to seal and hold the bud piece in place, and cut back the stock after the union is complete.

What is bench grafting?

A type of grafting performed indoors when both stock and scion are dormant, ideally in late March to early April.

What is the ideal diameter for stock and scion in bench grafting?

Both should ideally be pencil-sized, between 1/4 to 3/8 inch to about 1 inch in diameter.

What is the purpose of wrapping and waxing in bench grafting?

To ensure cambial contact for quick healing and a strong union.

What is the significance of rootstock in grafting?

Rootstocks can impart cold tolerance and disease resistance to the scion.

What historical advantage did rootstocks provide in grape production?

They helped control the Phylloxera aphid, which devastated European vineyards.

What is the life cycle of the Phylloxera aphid?

It involves stages on vine leaves and roots, with wingless adults laying eggs that hatch into crawlers, which can spread to new vines.

What is an example of a grafted tree that produces multiple fruits?

Sam Van Aken's tree that blooms in multiple colors and produces 40 different kinds of stone fruit.

How long did Paul Barnett take to develop his multi-variety apple tree?

24 years, meticulously grafting new varieties every winter.

What is the role of grafting tape in the grafting process?

It is used to hold the grafted pieces together and seal the cuts.

What is whip grafting?

A grafting technique where sloping cuts are made in both stock and scion for interlocking.

What happens if the bud is inserted in the fall?

The stock is cut back just before growth starts the next spring.

What is the importance of cambial contact in grafting?

It allows for quick healing and a strong union between the stock and scion.

What is the purpose of grafting wax?

To seal the graft site and protect it from moisture loss and infection.

What is the expected outcome of successful grafting?

The scion will grow and develop into a new plant with the desired characteristics.