Question

Vegetative propagation in Pistia occurs in

A. Stolen

B. Offset

C. Runner

D. Sucker

Answer 1

Hint: Vegetative reproduction is any form of asexual reproduction occurring in plants in which a new plant grows from a fragment of the parent plant or a specialized reproductive structure. The vegetative parts of the plants like leaf, roots, stem, and leaf give rise to a new individual. The detached part of the plant has cells enough to divide and produce a new individual.

Complete answer:

Pistia is a genus of aquatic plant in the family, Araceae. Pistia is a perennial monocotyledon with thick, soft leaves that form a rosette. It floats on the surface of the water, its roots hanging submersed beneath floating leaves. Vegetative propagation in Pistia occurs by offset.

- An offset is a small, virtually complete daughter plant that has been naturally and asexually produced on the mother plant.

- They are clones, meaning that they are genetically identical to the mother plant. They divide mitotically.

Offsets are branches that originated from the main stem. The upper portion of these branches is curved and has a group of leaves. The lower portion of these branches has roots.

- Offsets form when meristem regions of plants, such as axillary buds or homologous structures, differentiate into a new plant with the ability to become self-sustaining.

- They can also be detached from the mother plant to form a new plant.

So, the answer is option B, i.e., Offset.

Additional information:
Stolons are stems that grow at the soil surface or just below ground that form adventitious roots at the nodes, and new plants from the buds. The runner is a long stolon sent out by a plant (such as strawberry), in order to root new plantlets. Sucker is an adventitious shoot that develops from the root, often coming up some distance from the parent plant.

Note: Pistia stratiotes is often called water cabbage, water lettuce, Nile cabbage, or shellflower. Its native distribution is uncertain but probably pantropical. The flowers are dioecious and are hidden in the middle of the plant amongst the leaves. They also undergo sexual reproduction and small green berries form after successful fertilization.