Question

What is vegetative propagation? Is this process sexual or asexual? Justify your answer.

Answer 1

Step 1: Define vegetative propagation
Vegetative propagation is a type of asexual reproduction in plants where new plants are produced from the vegetative parts of the parent plant, such as stems, roots, or leaves. This process does not involve seeds or fertilization.

Step 2: Explain the asexual nature of the process
Vegetative propagation is an asexual process because it involves the growth of a new plant from a single parent without the fusion of male and female gametes (sperm and egg). New plants produced by vegetative propagation are genetically identical to the parent plant, meaning there is no genetic variation introduced during the reproduction.

Step 3: Justify the answer
Since no gametes or fertilization are involved and the offspring is a clone of the parent, vegetative propagation is a form of asexual reproduction. It allows rapid and efficient reproduction of plants, especially those that do not produce viable seeds or whose seeds have low germination rates.

Conclusion:
Vegetative propagation is asexual because it does not involve gamete fusion, and the offspring is genetically identical to the parent plant.