Vegetative reproduction

Vegetative reproduction is asexual reproduction , butother terms that apply are vegetative propagation and vegetative multiplication. In essence it is thoseprocesses by which new plant "individuals" arise or are obtained without production of seeds or spores . It is both a natural process inmany, many plant species and one utilized or encouraged by horticulturists to obtain quantities of economically valuable plants.

Natural vegetative reproduction is mostly a process of herbaceous and woody perennials, and typically involves structuralmodifications of the stem , although any horizontal, underground part of a plant (whether stem or a root ) can contribute to vegetativereproduction of a plant. Most plant species that survive and significantly expand by vegetative reproduction would be perennialalmost by definition, since specialized organs of vegetative reproduction, like seeds of annuals, serve to survive harsh conditions .

A rhizome is a modified stem serving as an organ of vegetativereproduction. Prostrate aerial stems, called runners or stolons are important vegetativereproduction organs in some species, such a strawberry , numerous grasses , and some ferns . Adventitiousbuds develop into above ground stems and leaves, forming on roots near the ground surface and on damaged stems (as on the stumpsof cut trees). Adventitious roots form on stems where the latter touch the soil surface.

Man-made methods of vegetative reproduction are usually enhancements of natural processes, but range from simple cloning such as rooting of cuttings to artificial propagation by laboratory tissue cloning . Fruit tree propagation is frequently by budding or grafting,which preserves clones of desirable varieties.

Cultivated Plants Propagated by Vegetative Methods

A number of commonly cultivated food plants are propagated by vegetative means rather than by seeds. This is a listing of suchplants:

Avocado

Banana

Cacao

Citrus ( lemon , orange , grapefruit )

Date

Fig

Manioc (cassava)

Nut crops ( walnut , pecan )

Pineapple

Pome fruits ( apple , pear )

Potato

Strawberry

Sugar cane

Vanilla