what is meant by vegetative propagation by stem?
vegetative propagation is the propagation of a species by making simple copies of itself, sometimes through a stem, sometimes through the roots, or leaves, or bulbs.
Advantage is that the plant does not need another plant nearby to reproduce (like in pears). However, since both the original plant and the new plants have the same genetic components, there will be no adaptive evolution advantage except for random mutations.
See http://leavingbio.net/vegetativepropagation.htm
for examples of different kinds of vegetative propagation.
thank you so much for your help MATHMATE
Vegetative propagation by stem refers to a method of asexual reproduction in plants where new plants are produced from the stems of existing plants, without the involvement of seeds or spores. This process allows plants to reproduce without the need for pollination or seed formation.
To understand vegetative propagation by stem, here's how it typically occurs:
1. Stem Cuttings: One common method of vegetative propagation is through stem cuttings. It involves taking a portion of the stem from a parent plant and placing it in a suitable environment, such as moist soil or water. With proper care, the stem cutting develops roots and grows into a new plant that is genetically identical to the parent plant.
2. Layering: Layering is another method of vegetative propagation by stem. It involves bending a low-lying stem of a parent plant into the soil and allowing it to develop roots while still attached to the parent plant. Once roots are established, the rooted portion is separated from the parent plant, resulting in a new individual plant.
3. Grafting: Grafting is a technique widely used in horticulture and orchard cultivation. It involves joining the stem of one plant, known as the scion, to the rooted stem of another plant, known as the rootstock. Through grafting, plants with desired traits, such as disease resistance or fruit quality, can be produced by combining different varieties onto a single plant.
4. Suckering: Some plants, like many fruit trees, naturally produce new shoots or suckers from their roots or near the base of their stems. These suckers can be separated from the parent plant and grown independently, resulting in new plants genetically identical to the parent.
Vegetative propagation by stem offers several advantages, such as maintaining the characteristics of desirable parent plants, reducing the time required for plant development, and bypassing the need for seed production and germination. This method is commonly employed in commercial plant production and allows for the rapid and efficient reproduction of plants with desirable traits.