Natural Plant Cloning: Vegetative Prop

Question 1

Where 4 places can natural cloning occur

Answer 1

1) bulbs
2) runners
3) rhizomes
4) stem tubers

Question 2

How does it occur in bulbs

Answer 2

• leaf bases swell with stored food from photosynthesis
• buds form internally which develop into new shoots in the next growing season
• for example daffodils

Question 3

How does it occur in runners

Answer 3

• a lateral stem grows away from parent plant and roots develop where the runner touches the ground
• new plant develops there and runner whither leaving individual growth
• for example strawberries

Question 4

How does it occur in rhizomes

Answer 4

• horizontal stem which runs underground swollen with stored foods
• buds develop and form new vertical shots which become independent plants
• for example marram grass

Question 5

How does it occur in stem tubers

Answer 5

• tip of an underground stem becomes swollen with stored food to form tuber or storage organ.
  -Buds on new organ develop to produce new shoots
• for example potatoes

Question 6

Advantages of natural cloning

Answer 6

1) increase plant numbers cheaply
2) much faster as time from planting to cropping is reduced
3) taking cutting from good stock, offspring is genetically identical and therefore good quality

Question 7

Disadvantages of natural cloning

Answer 7

1) monoculture- all genetically identical so reduces gene pool, more susceptible to diseases

Question 8

How to increase success rate of natural cloning

Answer 8

• use non flowering stem
• make oblique cut in stem
• use hormone rooting powder
• reduce leaves to 2 or 4
• cover cutting with plastic bag