Question

Plants can reproduce both sexually and asexually.
a. Explain the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction in plants (not in other organisms).
b. Explain the different ways in which a plant can reproduce asexually.
c. Include examples of the different types of asexual reproduction. ( I expect you to have more than one example as your textbook devotes an entire section to this topic.)

Answer 1

a. Sexual reproduction involves male and female gametes whereas asexual reproduction include only one parent.

Offsprings produced through sexual reproduction contain variation and is different from parents whereas asexual reproduction produces plants which are exactly similar to the parent plant.

b. There different methods by which plant can reproduce asexually-

Binary fission is the most common form of reproduction in prokaryotes and in some single celled prokaryotes

Budding is a form of asexual reproduction in which a new organism arises from the outgrowth of the parent. The outgrowth is known as bud

Fragmentation is a form of asexual reproduction in which new organism is formed from the fragment of the parent. The fragment is formed by splitting of the parent plant.

Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which organism is from the unfertilized egg

Vegetative reproduction involves single parent organism. There are various reproductive structures as explained - Rhizome is the common vegetative structure which is an underground modified stem.

c. Amoeba and Paramecium reproduces asexually by binary fission.

Budding is common in Hydra. It also occurs in Yeast.

Fragmentation is commin in moulds, lichens etc.

Rhizome is the common vegetative structure which is an underground modified stem. For example, Polypodium