The plant parts used for vegetative propagation include a variety of structures, both natural and those utilized artificially. Vegetative propagation is a form of asexual reproduction in plants where new individuals are formed from vegetative parts, bypassing the need for seeds.
Natural Vegetative Propagation
Natural vegetative propagation employs naturally occurring plant structures to create new plants. These include:
- Roots: Certain roots can develop into new plants.
- Underground Stems: Structures such as rhizomes, corms, and tubers can give rise to new plants.
- Subaerial Stems: These stems grow partially above ground and can root at nodes to form new plants.
- Aerial Shoots: Specialized aerial structures can detach and root.
- Leaves: Some leaves can produce plantlets along their margins or from their surfaces.
- Bulbils: Small bulb-like structures that detach and grow into new plants.
Artificial Vegetative Propagation
Artificial vegetative propagation involves human intervention to propagate plants using specific plant parts or techniques. These include:
- Root Tubers: Enlarged roots modified for storage that can produce new shoots.
- Corm: A short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that functions as a storage organ to survive adverse conditions.
- Parts of Rhizome: Sections of rhizomes (underground stems) can be separated and planted to grow into new plants.
Methods Employed
Several artificial methods are used:
- Cutting: Severed pieces of stems, leaves, or roots are induced to form roots and shoots.
- Layering: Stems are induced to root while still attached to the parent plant.
- Grafting: Parts of two plants are joined to grow as one.
- Bud Grafting: A bud is taken from one plant and placed on another.
