REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS – ICSE CLASS VIII

1. MODES OF REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS

Reproduction is the biological process by which living organisms give rise to offspring.
In plants, reproduction occurs in three ways:

a) Sexual Reproduction

• Involves the fusion of male (pollen) and female (egg) gametes.

• Occurs in flowers, which are the reproductive organs.
• Leads to variation in offspring.
• Meiosis leads to gamete formation; fertilisation results in a zygote.
• Example: Pea, Hibiscus.

b) Asexual Reproduction

• No gametes are involved.

• A single parent can produce identical offspring (clones).
• Common in lower plants like algae, fungi, and bacteria.
• Methods include fission, budding, fragmentation, spore formation.
• Example: Yeast, Spirogyra.

c) Vegetative Propagation

• New plants arise from vegetative parts – roots, stems, or leaves.

• Can be natural or artificial.
• Example: Potato (stem tuber), Bryophyllum (leaves), Sugarcane (stem).

2. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEXUAL, ASEXUAL & VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION

SL. Sexual Asexual Vegative

Feature
No. Reproduction Reproduction Propagation

1. Number of parents Two One One

Fusion of
gametes,
2. Gamate Involved No gametes No gamates
Fertilisation
occurs
Offspring are Offspring are Offspring are
3. Genetic variation genetically genetically genetically
different identical identical
 4. Speed Slow process Fast process Fast process

Potato,
Yeast,
5. Example Hibiscus, Pea Bryophyllum,
Spirogyra
Onion

3. ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS

i) Binary Fission

• The organism splits into two identical halves.

• Example: Chlamydomonas

ii) Budding

• A small outgrowth (bud) develops on the parent body and detaches.

• Example: Yeast

iii) Fragmentation

• Body breaks into fragments; each grows into a new plant.

• Example: Spirogyra

iv) Spore Formation

• Spores are formed in sporangia.

• They are lightweight, easily dispersed by air.
• Example: Rhizopus, Ferns

4. VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION (NATURAL)

i) Modified Roots

• Some roots store food and form new plants.

• Example: Sweet Potato, Dahlia

ii) Modified Stems

• Underground stems act as storage and reproductive organs.

a. Tuber – Thickened stem with ‘eyes’ or nodes

• Example: Potato

b. Bulb – Short stem surrounded by fleshy leaves

• Example: Onion

c. Rhizome – Horizontal underground stem

 • Example: Ginger

d. Corm – Vertical underground swollen stem

• Example: Colocasia (Arvi)

iii) Subaerial Stems

• Grow partly underground and partly above.

• Nodes produce new plants.
• Example: Strawberry, Grass

iv) Buds on Leaves

• Leaf buds give rise to new plants.

• Example: Bryophyllum

5. VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION (ARTIFICIAL)

i) Stem Cutting

• A portion of stem is cut and planted in soil.

• Example: Rose, Sugarcane

ii) Layering

• Branch bent to the ground and covered with soil. Roots emerge.
• Example: Jasmine

iii) Grafting

• Joining two plants: Stock (root part) and Scion (top part).
• Example: Mango

iv) Tissue Culture

• Cells/tissues grown in lab conditions using a nutrient medium.

• Large-scale production of genetically identical plants.
• Example: Banana, Orchid

6. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION

Advantages:

• Faster and cheaper.

• Clones retain parent characteristics.
• Can propagate seedless plants.
• Useful for plants with poor seed viability.

Disadvantages:
 • No genetic variation.
• Spread of disease.
• Limited adaptability.

7. SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS

Occurs in flowers, involves meiosis, pollination, and fertilisation.

• Zygote develops into an embryo inside the seed.

• Provides genetic diversity.
• Example: Hibiscus

8. STRUCTURE OF A FLOWER (Using Hibiscus as Example)

Types of Flower:

• Unisexual: Male or female reproductive parts present.

o Example: Papaya
• Bisexual: Both male and female parts present.
o Example: Hibiscus

Whorls of a Flower:

Accessory Whorls:

• Calyx: Outermost, green sepals, protects bud.

• Corolla: Coloured petals, attract pollinators.
Thalamus
Essential Whorls:

• Androecium: Male part – stamens (anther + filament), produces pollen.

• Gynoecium: Female part – carpels (stigma, style, ovary), contains ovules.

Monoecious Plant – Male and female flowers on the same plant (e.g. Maize).
Dioecious Plant – Male and female flowers on different plants (e.g. Papaya).

9. POLLINATION

Pollination – Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma.

i) Self-Pollination

• Same flower or same plant.

• Less variation.
• Occurs in pea, wheat.
ii) Cross-Pollination

• Between flowers of different plants of the same species.

• Brings variation.
• Requires pollinating agents.

10. AGENTS OF POLLINATION

a) Entomophily (Insects)

• Bright, scented, nectar.

• Sticky pollen.
• Example: Sunflower, Rose

b) Anemophily (Wind)

• Light, dry pollen.

• Long stamens and feathery stigma.
• Example: Maize, Wheat

c) Hydrophily (Water)

• Pollen travels through water.

• Example: Vallisneria

d) Artificial Pollination

• Done manually.
• Used in agriculture to produce hybrids.
• Advantage: Desired traits
• Disadvantage: Expensive, time-consuming

11. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TYPES OF POLLINATED FLOWERS

SL.No Type Key Traits Example

• Bright petals
• Scent • Rose
1. Insect
• Nectar • Marigold
• Sticky pollen
• Small flowers
• Grass
2. Wind • Exposed stamens
• Maize
• Dry pollen

3. Water • Pollen floats on water • Vallisneria

 • Done manual for • Crops
4. Human
breeding • Hybrids

12. FERTILISATION IN PLANTS

Fertilisation – Fusion of male and female gametes.

Process:

1. Pollen lands on stigma (pollination).

2. Germinates forming pollen tube.
3. Tube carries male gametes to ovule.
4. One male gamete fuses with egg → zygote.
5. Zygote → embryo → seed.

Changes After Fertilisation:

• Ovule → Seed
• Ovary → Fruit
• Petals, sepals, stamens fall off

Flowchart of Fertilisation:

Pollination → Pollen Germination → Pollen Tube → Fusion of Gametes → Zygote → Embryo → Seed → Fruit

13. OVERALL FLOWCHART OF REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS

Reproduction
├── Asexual
│ ├── Binary Fission (Chlamydomonas)
│ ├── Budding (Yeast)
│ ├── Fragmentation (Spirogyra)
│ └── Spore Formation (Rhizopus)
├── Vegetative Propagation
│ ├── Natural
│ │ ├── Roots (Sweet Potato)
│ │ ├── Stems (Potato, Onion, Ginger)
│ │ └── Leaves (Bryophyllum)
│ └── Artificial
│ ├── Cutting (Rose)
│ ├── Layering (Jasmine)
│ ├── Grafting (Mango)
│ └── Tissue Culture (Banana)
└── Sexual
├── Flower Structure
├── Pollination (Self/Cross)
└── Fertilisation → Seed and Fruit Formation