Theory question 102
Reproduction in Plants(a) State five different methods used in vegetative propagation in plants giving an example in each case
(b) State five (i) advantages and (ii) disadvantages of vegetative propagation
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(a) Any five with example: stem cuttings – cassava, sugarcane; grafting – citrus, mango; budding – citrus, rubber; layering (marcotting) – hibiscus, cocoa; suckers – banana, plantain; tubers – yam (stem tuber), sweet potato (root tuber); rhizomes – ginger; corms – cocoyam; bulbs – onion; runners/stolons – grass; leaves – Bryophyllum.
(b)(i) Advantages (any five): offspring are exactly like the parent, so good qualities are kept; plants mature and yield faster; no need for pollination or seeds; useful for plants that produce few or no viable seeds; the food store in the organ helps young plants survive; a quick way to get many plants.
(ii) Disadvantages (any five): no variation, so no new better varieties; diseases of the parent are passed on; overcrowding near the parent and competition; propagating materials are bulky to store and carry; they may not keep long (rot); poor adaptation to changing environments.
Pair each method with a crop example.