Question

Mention the vegetative propagules of the following plants:
(a) Water hyacinth
(b) Agave
(c) Banana

Answer 1

Hint: Vegetative propagules are the special organs of the plant that carries out vegetative propagation. These arise from the stem, roots, leaves, etc.

Complete step by step answer:
The vegetative propagules of the given plants are:
Water hyacinth: The offsets are the vegetative propagule of water hyacinth. They form crowns at their tips and when the stem of the plant breaks, the crowns fall on the ground and get converted into independent plants.
Agave: These plants are propagated by bulbils. Bulbils are the fleshy buds that are produced in the place of axillary buds on the axils of leaves. After their shedding, they fall on the ground and give rise to new plants.
Banana: Rhizomes are the vegetative propagules of banana plants. These are underground stems and produce adventitious roots and lateral shoots.

Additional Information: Vegetative propagation is a type of asexual reproduction that is found is specifically found in plants and occurs through vegetative propagules. The propagules are some special parts of plants. The process can occur through fragmentation and regeneration of the vegetative propagules. Vegetative propagation is of two types, the one which occurs without human interference is called natural whereas the one carried out by humans is called artificial. The natural propagation occurs by the development of adventitious roots, and thus emerges the new plant from the stem, roots, and leaves. Vegetative propagules that arise from the stem are rhizome, bulb, runner, tuber, etc. The ones arising from roots are tubers, buds, etc. Artificial propagation is carried out by different methods such as cutting, layering, tissue culture, etc.

Note: Vegetative propagation occurs in parts like buds, rhizome, leaves, etc. These parts get detached from the plant and produce new plants from them. Usually, new plants form from seeds, but in this case, even a leaf, stem, or root can produce an offspring. Therefore, it is vastly used in agriculture as an alternative to seed cropping, especially when the seeds of the plant are not viable or are of long dormancy.