Question

What is vegetative propagation?

Answer 1

The term vegetative denotes propagation or reproduction achieved by asexual reproduction. Propagation means breeding of a plant or animal naturally from the parental stock.

Complete answer:
Vegetative propagation or Vegetative reproduction is formation of a new plant from a fragment of the parent plant a vegetative structure by asexual means. It can be natural or artificially induced. Though the plants can propagate by vegetative means, it is not the preferred way of reproduction. Plants show vegetative propagation due to presence of meristematic cells which are capable of undergoing cellular differentiation. The meristematic tissue is normally found in root, stems, leaves, and at their tips. It consists of undifferentiated cells that are constantly dividing and promotes plant growth and have potential to give rise to plant tissue systems. It is necessary to develop adventitious roots to arise from other vegetative parts as they allow the development of new plants. Clones are formed by this process. The unit structure required for this process which gives rise to a new plant is called vegetative propagule. Following structures can act as vegetative propagules- runners, tuber, buds, bulb, corm, sucker, plantlet, etc. it can be done artificially by cutting, grafting, layering, tissue culture and offset.
Example-

Tuber- Tubers can be developed from the stem or the root. Stem tubers grow from rhizomes that swell from storing nutrients while root tubers propagate from roots which are modified to store nutrients and are potent enough to produce a new plant.
Eg- potato tuber.
Cutting- A part of the plant, usually a part of the stem or a leaf, is cut off and planted. Adventitious roots arise from cuttings and a new plant is eventually developed. The cuttings are treated with hormones to induce growth.
Eg- rose, hibiscus.

Note: Clones can be produced by vegetative propagation of the plants with desired characters. It can be achieved naturally or artificially. An important thing to remember here is the parts of plants by which vegetative propagation can be achieved.