Class 7 Notes Science Chapter 12
Reproduction in Plants
The process in which only one parent is involved in the production of
new individuals of the same kind is called asexual reproduction. In
plants, asexual reproduction results in the formation of offsprings or new
plants without seeds or spores.
Asexual reproduction in plants occurs through the following
methods:
• Fragmentation
•Spore formation
• Vegetative propagation
• Budding
• FRAGMENTATION
In spirogyra, asexual reproduction takes place by fragmentation, in
which the filament breaks into several pieces. Each piece grows as a new
individual. The vegetative filament transforms into a new filament
following fragmentation.
• SPORE FORMATION
Some fungus like bread mould reproduces asexually by spore
formation. Spores (present in the air) are the small spherical
bodies, having a thick protective wall that protects them from
unfavourable conditions. When favourable conditions arrive the
spores burst and germinate to develop into new plants.
•
• VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION
This is an asexual method of reproduction in plants where
vegetative parts namely the root, stem, leaf or buds give rise to new
plants.
No reproductive organs take part in this method of reproduction
and therefore, no seeds are produced.
Vegetative propagation by roots — In sweet potato, dahlia or
asparagus, the swollen roots are present. New plants arise from
these swollen roots buried in the soil.
Vegetative propagation by stems — A number of plants like potato,
ginger, turmeric by stems.
Vegetative Propagation By Stem
Underground and subaerial stems are modified for vegetative
propagation. Examples
• Tuber of potato is an underground stem which stores food. It
has buds in the depression called eye which can give rise to a
new plant.
• Rhizome is an underground stem that bears buds. Ex ginger,
turmeric.
Bulb is a small disk-like stem surrounded by scale leaves.It is found in
onion. In this, a new plant can arise from the stem.
An aerial stem of grass, mint and strawberry may give rise to new
plant by vegetative propagation.
Vegetative propagation by leaves
Plants like Bryophyllum, Begonia etc., have adventitious buds
coming out from the notches of the leaves. These buds develop into new
plants.
4. Budding
In this process, a daughter individual is formed from a small
projection on parent body called a bud. Most of the fungi-like, yeast
reproduce by budding. Yeast grow and multiply in every few hours, if
provided with sufficient nutrients and favourable condition.
Artificial propagation of plants includes these four main processes:
Grafting:
The grafting process involves joining the shoot system of a plant (known
as a scion) to the root system of another plant (known as the stock). To
do this, the scion and stock are cut diagonally and then placed facing
each other. The cuts are made in such a way that the sizes (diameter) of
the scion and stock are very close. They are then taped together and left
to heal over time.
Cutting:
Plants such as roses and sugarcane can be cut at the points of nodes and
internodes. These points are then placed in moist soils. After some time,
adventitious roots develop at the points, and new plants begin to grow.
Layering:
In some plants like raspberries, the stem can be bent and buried in the
soils around the plant. After some time, adventitious roots develop off
the stem. This part of the stem is known as the layer. The stem can then
develop into a new plant.
Tissue Culture:
In this modern technique, tissue scraped from the parent plant is placed
in a special growing medium and under certain conditions. The tissue is
nourished from the nutrients in the medium until new plants are
produced. Orchids, Chrysanthemum, and Asparagus are examples of
plants cultivated with tissue culture.
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
A flower commonly has four parts. These parts, in order, from the
outside are sepals, petals, stamens and pistils.
Sepals : The outermost whorl of the flower consists of sepals. These are
the green, leaf-like structures at the base of the flower. Sepals protect the
flower during its development and support the flower when it blooms.
Petals : The second whorl consists of petals. These are colorful
structures that surround the inner parts of flowers. Its function is to
attract the pollinators.
Stamen : The third whorl of flower consists of stamen. It consists of an
anther and a filament. An anther is a swollen structure present on the tip
of the filament. The anther produces a powdery substance called the
pollen grains. Pollen grains contain the male sex cell or male gamete.
Pollen grains are light and can be carried by wind, water or insects .
Pistil : It is a single elongated structure in the center of the flower. It
consists of a basal swollen portion called the ovary.
The ovary continues into a long style and ends in two knob-like parts,
the stigma. The ovary contains many ovules. The female sex cell or
gamete (egg) is present inside the ovule .
