SEXUAL AND ASEXUAL PLAN REPRODUCTION
Reproduction among living things can be accomplished in one or two ways: asexual reproduction and/or sexual
reproduction.
Reproduction in plants takes place sexually and asexually as well.
But the majority of the flowering plants reproduce sexually.
The flower is the reproductive part of a plant i.e., both male and female gametes are produced by flowers. Sexual
reproduction in plants takes place in flowers.
Pollination is the process of transferring pollen grains from the anther - male part of a flower, to the stigma - female
part of a flower.
Depending on the pollen landing, pollination can be classified into two types.
Self-Pollination: A pollination where the pollen transfer takes place between the anther and stigma of the same
flower.
Cross-Pollination: A pollination where the pollen transfer takes place between the anther and the stigma of
different flowers of the same plant or different plants of the same species.
Types of Cross-pollination
Hydrophily-pollination by water Zoophily-pollination by animals Anemophily- or pollination by wind Entomophily-
pollination by insect Ornithophily-pollination by birds.
Zygote formation - In this stage, a zygote is formed by the fusion of male and female gametes. This process is
known as fertilization.
Fruit and Seed formation - In this stage, the formed zygote develops into an embryo, the ovary develops into fruit
and the ovules into seeds.
For example, White mulberry, Birch, Pine, Coconut flowers, Papaya, etc.
Bisexual flowers - These flowers possess both male and female reproductive organs in the same flower. For
example, Rose, Sunflower, Tulip, Hibiscus, Lily.
Asexual reproduction is the mode of reproduction that does not involve the fusion of male and female
gametes and produces individuals that are genetically identical to the parent.
"Asexual reproduction in plants occurs through budding, fragmentation, vegetative propagation, and spore
formation.
No flowers are required for this method.
Types Of Asexual Reproduction In Plants
Asexual reproduction in plants takes place in two
ways:
Naturally
Artificially
Natural Methods
Natural methods of asexual reproduction include self-
propagation.
The different ways in which a plant self propagates
are mentioned below:
Plants such as ginger, onion, dahlia, potato, grow from the buds present on the surface of the stem.
A stem tuber has several eyes on the surface. Under favourable conditions, these eyes sprout producing leafy
shoots.
In sweet potato, new plants can grow from the adventitious buds or stolons.
Budding
Budding is the mode of asexual reproduction wherein a new plant is developed from an outgrowth known as the
bud. A bud is generally formed due to cell division at one particular site.
For example, if you keep a potato for a long time, you can notice a number of small which outgrowths, commonly
referred to as 'eyes'. Each of them can be planted which will grow up like a clone of an original potato plant.
Vegetative Propagation
It is any form of asexual reproduction occurring in plants, in which new plants are produced from the vegetative
parts of the plants, i.e. roots, stems or buds.
Vegetative propagation in plants can occur both by naturally or also can be artificially induced by horticulturists.
The most common techniques of vegetative propagation are:
Stems - Runners are the stems which usually grow in a horizontal form above the ground.
They have the nodes where the buds are formed.
These buds usually grow into a new plant.
Roots - A new plant is developed from modified
roots called tubers.
Example Sweet Potato
Leaves - In some plants, detached leaves from the parent plant can be used to grow a new plant.
They exhibit growth of small plants, called plantlets, on the edge of their leaves.
Example:
Bryophyllum.
Fragmentation
This is a mode of asexual reproduction in which a new plant is produced from a portion of the parent plant.
Each section or a part of the plants develop into a mature, fully grown individual.
Some plants possess specialized structures for reproduction through fragmentation.
This type of reproduction happens naturally where the small part of the plant fall off onto soil and then begin to
grow up into a new plant.
Artificial Methods
Following are the artificial methods of asexual reproduction in plants:
Cutting
In this method, a part of a plant is cut along with the node and is buried in the soil.
The cutting is watered regularly. this is the cheapest method of vegetative propagation in plants.
Grafting
In this method, the parts of two different plants are joined together such that they continue to grow as a single
plant.
The rooted plant is known as the stock. The other plant is known as the graft.
Layering
It is the method in which a
stem attached to a plant is lowered in the ground and covered with soil.
The stem grows roots while attached to the parent plant and then detaches as an independent plant.
Micropropagation
This is the method of producing a large number of plants from an explant under laboratory conditions within a
short time interval.
This facilitates the growth of rare and endangered plant species that are difficult to grow under natural conditions.
What is Self Pollinated Crops?
Self-pollinated crops are plants that have the ability to fertilize their own flowers using their own pollen.
Examples of Self Pollinated Crops:
Wheat, rice, barley, oats, soybeans, sunflowers, roses, peanuts, and almonds
What is Cross Pollinated Crops?
Cross-pollination the transfer of pollen from the flower of one plant to the flower of a plant having a different
genetic constitution.
Examples of Cross Pollinated Crops?
Apples, plums, pears, raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, runner beans, pumpkins, daffodils,
tulips, heather, and lavender.
Principles of Plant Breeding
Modes of Pollination: Self Pollination and Cross Pollination
What is Pollination?
The transfer of pollen grain from the another to the stigma of a flower is called pollination.
Pollen grains are transferred by wind, water or insects. If pollen grains land on the stigma of the same flower, it is
called self pollination.
If pollen grains of one flower lands on the stigma of another flower it is called cross pollination.
Self Pollination
Transfer of pollen grains within one flower
Pollen grains from the another are transferred onto the stigma
Cross Pollination
The transfer of pollen from the flower of one plant to the flower of a plant having a different genetic constitution.
Mode of Pollination
1. Autogamy
Development of seed by self pollination
Several mechanism that promotes self pollination
2. Allogamy
Development of seed by cross pollination Mechanisms which promotes self autogamy.
INTRODUCTION
The Japanese art of making a dish-garden or Hachi-Niwa is as unique as it is picturesque. Imagine a miniature
landscape perfectly carried out in a shallow dish or bowl measuring anywhere from six inches to two feet, and you
will know what the Japanese dish-garden is. No wonder it is called landscape gardening in a teaplate! Many of
these tiny gardens can be set with perfect ease on a tea-tray.
The idea, it is said, was borrowed from China [sic]. Such a miniature garden is particularly charming for the porch,
paved court, or window ledge, where growing green things are limited, or where winter cheer is desired.
As far as possible, these tiny landscape gardens are reproductions of some admired bit of Japanese scenery, for all
Japanese gardens of the real native type, large or small, are imitations of a natural landscape made supremely
artistic by their clever 'improvement of art over nature!'
A Dish Garden is a group of plants in a small container, resembling a mini landscape, such as a desert or a rain
forest. It can be an ornamental living memory of a special event or just a windowsill hobby garden.
Dish gardens are meant to be mini-landscapes; they make a great gift you need or a fun project for the kids. All to
do is arrange small plants in a shallow container to your liking. You can come up with a theme for your garden like a
tropical rainforest or desert garden. It's an easy procedure with a few dish garden facts to keep in mind.
HOW MAKE A DISH GARDEN
Imagine having a miniature landscape or nature scene complete with live, growing plants as a decoration in your
home.
When you collect plants that grow well together, with similar soil, lighting and water needs, and then arrange them
together in a small container like a shallow bowl, you create an attractive, scaled-down garden.
Dish gardens look similar to terrariums, except dish gardens contain plants that grow up and out of the container,
while terrariums are enclosed in a glass container.
Make your dish garden as detailed or as plain as you wish.
BENEFITS
Plants for Dish Gardens. Plants have the ability to lighten moods, clean the air and change the look of a room.
You may be able to place your mini dish garden outside in the summer and then to move it into your house in the
fall for overwintering.
You are sure to receive many complements, comments and questions about your mini garden.
You should be able to enjoy sharing your mini garden and answering the questions should be enjoyable too. Enjoy
your mini dish garden.
That is another benefit of a miniature dish garden they may be transported easily.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Water your plants well the day before you transplant them to your dish garden, and allow them to drain.
2. Line the bottom of your container with a 2- to 12-inch layer of pea-size gravel. Line your container with sand or
granulated charcoal if you do not have gravel. Use a shallow container with a depth of about 3 inches, which allows
room for soil and roots. 3. Place a piece of synthetic fabric like nylon hosiery on top of the gravel in your dish. This
fabric keeps the soil from settling into the gravel and preventing drainage. 4. Add 2 to 4 inches of potting soil to
your dish container, depending on how deep a container you have. Mix 1 part sand and 1 part peat if you don't
have potting soil.
5. Make holes in your dish garden the same depth as the depth at which the plants were planted. Set the plants
into their holes. Press the soil firmly around the roots for each plant. Arrange the plants in your dish garden based
on how the dish garden will be seen. For example, plant the largest plants in or near the center, so your garden can
be seen from all sides. Plant the tallest plants in the back of your dish garden if it will only be seen from one or two
sides.
6. Water your plants enough to moisten or dampen the soil. If your container has existing drainage holes, place a
saucer under the containers to collect the excess water and prevent your furniture from getting water stains.
