COLEGIO LA COLINA

EIGHTH GRADE
SCIENCE

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction occurs when an organism makes more of itself without exchanging genetic
information with another organism through sex.

In sexually reproducing organisms, the genomes of two parents are combined to create offspring with
unique genetic profiles. This is beneficial to the population because genetically diverse populations
have a higher chance of withstanding survival challenges such as disease and environmental changes.

Asexually reproducing organisms can suffer a dangerous lack of diversity – but they can also reproduce
faster than sexually reproducing organisms, and a single individual can found a new population without
the need for a mate.

Asexual reproduction in plants.

Many plants are able to propagate themselves using asexual reproduction. This method does not
require the investment required to produce a flower, attract pollinators, or find a means of seed
dispersal. Asexual reproduction produces plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant
because no mixing of male and female gametes takes place.
A clear advantage of asexual reproduction is that the resulting plant will reach maturity faster. Since
the new plant is arising from an adult plant or plant parts, it will also be sturdier than a seedling. Asexual
reproduction can take place by natural or artificial (assisted by humans) means.

Natural Methods of Asexual Reproduction

Natural methods of asexual reproduction include strategies that plants have developed to self-
propagate. Many plants, such as ginger, onion, gladioli, and dahlia, continue to grow from buds that
are present on the surface of the stem. In some plants, such as the sweet potato, adventitious roots
or runners (stolons) can give rise to new plants.

Buds

Stolons: are stems which grow at the soil surface or just below ground that form adventitious roots at
the nodes, and new plants from the buds.
Buds: small lateral or terminal protuberance on the stem of a vascular plant that may develop into a
flower, leaf, or shoot
 Artificial Methods of Asexual Reproduction

Artificial methods of asexual reproduction are frequently employed to give rise to new, and sometimes novel,
plants. They include grafting, cutting, layering, and micropropagation.

Grafting

Grafting is an artificial method of asexual reproduction used to

produce plants combining favorable stem characteristics with
favorable root characteristics. The stem of the plant to be
grafted is known as the scion, and the root is called the stock.

Layering

In layering, a part of the stem is buried so that it forms a new plant.

Cutting

Plants such as roses and rosemary are propagated through stem cuttings where a portion of the stem
containing nodes and internodes is placed in moist soil and allowed to root. In some species, stems
can start producing a root even when placed only in water. For example, leaves of the African violet
will root if kept undisturbed in water for several weeks.

Answer the following questions

1. What is important to be considered in the asexual reproduction of plants?

2. Mention one thing in common among the different asexual reproduction.
3. Mention one advantage and disadvantage of the asexual reproduction.

References
 https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/asexual-reproduction/
 https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/origin-flowers-has-been-discovered/
 https://www.planetnatural.com/plant-propagation/