Vegetative Propagation in Plants – Definition, Types, Examples

Have you ever thought if reproduction in the plant can take place without seeds? Yes, it is possible. In flowering plants, the roots, stem and leaves also help reproduction. This process is called Vegetative Propagation in Plants. 

Propagation in plants is a kind of asexual reproduction. Also, propagation methods like budding, grafting, etc., have been developed by horticulturists over the years of research. The vegetative propagation method is used to grow genetically and morphologically identical offspring. It is used commercially by gardeners to grow more plants in a shorter period. This article will study the types of vegetative propagation and the process with examples. 

What is Vegetative Propagation in Plants?

The method that is used to produce a new plant from the vegetative parts such as roots, leaves, stems, bulb, tubers, etc., of a mother plant is called vegetative propagation in plants.

Types of Vegetative Propagation

The two types of vegetative propagation found in plants are the natural methods of vegetative propagation and the artificial methods of vegetative propagation.

1. Natural Methods of Vegetative Propagation

In this process, the growth of a new plant takes place naturally without any human interference through various parts of the plant body like roots, stem, and leaves. The propagation in plants takes place through adventitious roots.
The common modes of vegetative propagation in plants are mentioned below:
a) Runners: The new plant is grown from the stems. Stems that grow horizontally are called runners. The buds are formed at the nodes that later develop the root, shoot, and give rise to a new plant.
Example: Pistia.

b) Offset: An offset is a small, lateral shoot that takes root and produces a tuft of leaves naturally or asexually.
Example: Water Hyacinth.

Fig: Offset

c) Sucker: Sucker is a subaerial branch that develops from the main stem. They are shorter and stouter than runners.
Example: Mint, Chrysanthemum, etc.

 Fig: Sucker in Chrysanthemum

d) Rhizomes: A rhizome is a root-like underground stem that grows horizontally through the soil. They are thick and fleshy because they store reserved food materials. The shoots grow upwards to form a new plant.
Example: Ginger.

Fig: Rhizome in Ginger

e) Corm: It is a short underground stem that is vertical and fleshy. It stores food and starches that help plants to survive in unfavourable conditions. They produce offshoots known as daughter corms or cormels, which allows vegetative reproduction. The corms separate from each other and form new plants.
Examples: Gladiolus, Crocus, Crocosmia, etc.

Fig: Vegetative Propagation by Corm

f) Bulb: It is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The stem is reduced to form a disc-like base, also known as a basal plate. It is vertical in direction, and the terminal bud gives rise to the floral shoots. The bulb functions as food storage, and helps survive the plant in adverse conditions. The growth of the plant occurs from the basal plate. The roots develop from the underside, and the stems and leaves grow at the upper side of the basal plate—Examples: Onion, Tulip, Daffodil, etc.

Fig: Vegetative Propagation in Onion

g) Tuber: These are modified, underground stems branches having several buds. The tuber is seen in potatoes with adventitious buds. Each eye of the potato is a bud that grows into a new potato plant when planted with a portion of the swollen tuber.

Fig: Tuber in Potato

h) Leaves: In this form of vegetative reproduction, a new plant is grown from the buds that grow on the leaf margin. When these buds fall on the ground, they germinate to give rise to a new plant.
Examples: Bryophyllum, Kalanchoe, Begonia, etc.

Fig: Vegetative Propagation by Leaf

2. Artificial Methods of Vegetative Propagation

Horticulturalists and gardeners use this method to develop healthier crops at a faster rate with more desirable qualities. The typical artificial methods are cutting, grafting, layering and tissue culture.

a) Cutting: In this method, a small piece of any plant organ-like stem, root or leaf is cut off from a mother plant and then used for growing a whole plant. Sometimes cuttings are treated with hormones before planting to induce root development.
Example: Rose, grapes, tamarind, sugarcane, etc.

 Fig: Stem Cutting

b) Grafting: This method involves the joining of two plant parts so that they grow as one plant. The stem piece or bud is called the scion, and the plant with roots is called the stock. Grafting is generally used in rose, apple, plum, peach, mango, etc. The scion of high-quality roses is grafted on wild rose rootstock.

Fig: Grafting

c) Layering: In this method, the lower branch of a plant is bent down and covered below in moist soil. Adventitious roots or roots develop in the parts covered by soil after a few weeks before they are detached from the parent plant. Jasmine, grapevine, lemon, etc., can be propagated by layering.
i) Simple layering: In simple layering, the branches of plants are bent to the ground, and with the help of small twigs, that branch is attached to the soil. After that, the bent portion of the branch is covered by soil. The tips should remain exposed. Roots will develop, and the branch is cut off in the soil to develop new plants. Example: China rose, lemon, rose, etc.
ii) Mound layering: This method is done for heavy stemmed trees with tight branches. In this method, a plant is cut back to produce new shoots near the ground. With the help of soil, the base of the plant is covered. The newly developed shoots will grow roots. Then the shoots are cut off from the original plant and planted in the soil to produce new plants. Example: Apple, gooseberry, etc.

Fig: Simple Layering and Mound Layering

iii) Air layering or Gootee: In another technique called air layering, a portion of the bark or outermost covering of the stem is removed and covered with cow dung, manured clay soil and hay to reduce moisture loss. Frequent watering should be done over the covered portion. After some time, roots will appear, and this portion of the plant can be removed and planted in the soil to produce new plants. Example: Mango, guava, litchi, etc.

Fig: Air Layering

d) Micropropagation: In this method, many plants propagate from a single plant quickly under laboratory conditions by culturing the cells, tissues, embryos and organs. This method allows the propagation of rare, endangered species that may be difficult to grow under natural conditions, are economically significant or are in demand as disease-plants. Under sterile conditions, the tiny fragments of plants are treated with a culture medium containing all the minerals, vitamins, and plant hormones required. The hormones stimulate the growth of an undifferentiated mass of cells known as callus, from which new plantlets can grow. These can be separated and are first grown under greenhouse conditions, and then they are moved to field conditions.

 Fig: Micropropagation

Advantages of Vegetative Propagation

The advantages of vegetative propagation in plants are as follows:
1. Only one parent is required in this method.
2. Genetically identical plants can be produced by this method.
3. This method is less expensive and more accessible.
4. Rapid population growth is seen if there is a proper environmental condition.
5. The plants raised by vegetative propagation bear flowers and fruits earlier than those produced from seeds.
6. Seedless plants can be produced by vegetative propagation.
7. This method is helpful for commercial growers because it can save a lot of time and money.
8. Chances of survival are more.

Disadvantages of Vegetative Propagation

The disadvantages of vegetative propagation in plants are as follows:
1. It does not allow any genetic variation.
2. The disease is likely to affect the whole population as there is no genetic variation.
3. The offspring produced by the vegetatively propagated plants cannot be stored for long.
4. New varieties of plants cannot be produced by this method.
5. The plants show significantly less possibility of dispersal.

Summary

Vegetative propagation in plants is mainly a process in which a new plant is reproduced with the help of a few natural and artificial methods. In this method, the structural parts like leaves, roots, stems, etc., help grow new plants naturally. In contrast, artificial methods are human-created processes that help propagate new plants. The artificial methods of vegetative propagation like cutting, grafting, layering, and tissue culture are generally used by gardeners or farmers to get an improved crop with a high growth rate.

FAQs

Q.1. What is vegetative propagation?
Ans: The method used to reproduce a new plant from the vegetative parts such as roots, leaves, stems, bulb, tubers, etc., of a mother plant is called vegetative propagation in plants.

Q.2. What are the two methods of vegetative propagation?
Ans: The two methods of vegetative propagation are natural and artificial.

Q.3. What plants reproduce by vegetative propagation?
Ans: The seedless plants are reproduced by vegetative propagation.

Q.4. What are the artificial methods of vegetative propagation?
Ans: The artificial methods of vegetative reproduction are cutting, grafting, layering and micropropagation.

Q.5. What are the advantages of vegetative propagation in plants?
Ans: 1. Only one parent is required in this method.
2. Genetically identical plants can be produced by this method.
3. This method is less expensive and more accessible.

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