Question

What do you think - Vegetative reproduction also a type of asexual reproduction? Why do you say so? Is the term clone applicable to the offspring formed by vegetative reproduction?

Answer 1

Hint: Clones are formed from the same group of cells that are genetically related to their origins and each other.

Complete step-by-step answer:
To solve this question, first, we have to know about different types of asexual reproduction in plants. In asexual reproduction only one parent involves. Depending upon the conditions in which organism is reproducing, asexual reproduction has various modes. Asexual reproduction can be classified as multiple fission, plasmotomy, budding, sporulation, binary fission, fragmentation, and vegetative propagation. Here we focus on vegetative reproduction.

Vegetative reproduction is a specialized mode of asexual reproduction occurring in higher plants. In this process, genetically identical new plants are formed from vegetative parts of parent plants. These vegetative parts are called as vegetative propagules. As in vegetative reproduction only a single parent can take part in the process of reproduction therefore, it is said that vegetative reproduction is a type of asexual reproduction.

Now, the term cloning introduces to the various processes that may be used to form genetically related copies of an individual. Clone is a copied material that has the same genetic make-up as the original material. Clones are formed by the same group of cells. They are genetically related to each other and their parents. In vegetative reproduction, the offspring are genetically identical new plants that formed from vegetative parts of parent plants. So, the term clone applies to the offspring formed by vegetative reproduction.

Thus, we can say that vegetative reproduction is a type of asexual reproduction and the term clone applies to the offspring produced by vegetative reproduction.

Note: In vegetative reproduction, genetically identical new plants are formed by the vegetative parts like stems, shoots, buds, roots, and leaves. Both vegetative reproduction and clone are types of asexual reproduction.