Asexual and sexual reproduction in plants

Asexual Reproduction

Reproduction requiring only one parent; no fusion of sex cells, involves cell division by mitosis.

Sexual Reproduction

Reproduction that requires fusion of sex cells; gametes contain half the chromosomes from each parent.

Vegetative Propagation

A method of asexual reproduction in plants where new plants develop from roots, stems, or leaves of the parent.

Corms

Short swollen stems that grow vertically underground, used in natural vegetative propagation.

Stem Tubers

Enlarged tips of underground stems where buds or 'eyes' appear; examples include Irish potato and yam.

Bulbs

Modified underground stems surrounded by fleshy and scaly leaves; examples include onions and garlic.

Runners

Side shoots from the parent plant that develop into new plants at points along the runner.

Rhizomes

Swollen underground stems that grow horizontally, such as ginger and arrowroot.

Cuttings

Small pieces of stem with leaves attached that can grow into new plants when placed in moist soil or water.

Budding

A method where a bud (scion) is removed from one plant and attached to another plant (stock) to grow.

Grafting

Attaching a cut stem from one plant to the rootstock of another plant to combine desirable traits.

Tissue Culture

A laboratory method where tissue from a parent plant is grown on special medium to create callus and encourage roots and shoots.

Pollination

Transfer of mature pollen grains from the anther to the stigma by wind, insects, birds, or animals.

Self Pollination

Pollination where pollen comes from the same flower.

Cross Pollination

Pollination that occurs between different flowers, leading to greater genetic variation.

Zygote

The fertilized ovule that develops into a seed.

Cotyledon

The part of the seed that provides food for the developing plant embryo.

Epicotyl

The part of the seed that grows above the cotyledons and gives rise to the leaves.

Hypocotyl

The part below the cotyledon attachment point, developing into the stem.

Seed Germination

The process through which a seed develops into a new plant.