Question

Vegetative propagation in Pistia occurs by
A) Sucker
B) Stolon
C) Offset
D) Runner

Answer 1

Hint:Pistia is a representative of the Aquatic plant genus belonging to the Arun Family namely Araceae. In common terms, it is often referred to as water lettuce, water cabbage, or shellflower.

Complete answer:
Vegetative propagation is defined as the process of regenerating a new plant from the parent plant through its vegetative part. This process is accomplished by several vegetative parts of the plants namely – stem or roots or leaves.
>Option A:-Suckers or the root sprouts are the plant stems arising from the basal portion of the bud of the parent plant stems. They may even be present on the roots of these plants. Plants such as elm, apple, banana trees, etc are examples of plants using suckers as their vegetative parts. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.
>Option B:-Stolon or the runner is defined as a slender stem growing horizontally along the ground thereby giving rise to both the roots as well as aerial branches at specialized zone points called as nodes. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.
>Option C:- Offset regions are formed when the meristematic regions of the plants, for example their axillary buds or homologous buds undergo differentiation into a new plant so that it could feature its ability of self-sustainability. In Pistia, the process of vegetative propagation occurs in presence of offset when one intermode appears to run horizontally along the soil surface thereby ultimately giving rise to a new plant either from its axillary or terminal bud. Therefore, this is the correct option.
>Option D:-Runner features the same characteristics as that of the stolon. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Thus, the correct option is (C) Offset.

Note: Offsets are produced by mitotic division of the plant’s main stem. It is an asexual mode of reproduction and the daughter plant is a clone of the mother plant.