A small part of the shoot of a plant is removed with a sharp knife. When the lower end of this small part of the shoot is buried in moist soil, it gradually develops roots and shoots and grows to become a new plant.
(a) What is the name of this method of propagating plants ?
(b) What care should be taken while removing a small part of the shoot from the parent plant with a knife?
(c) Name any two plants which provide us food directly or indirectly and are grown by this method.
(d) Give one advantage of this of this method of producing new plants.
(e) State whether it is a sexual method of reproduction or an asexual method. why ?
(f) What special name can be given to the genetically similar organisms?

Answer

(a) Cuttings method (b) The cutting should have one (or more) bud on it (c) Sugar can and Banana plants (d) By using the cutting mthod, we can produce many new plants from just one plant quickly, without waiting for flowers and seeds (e) Asexual method of reproduction ; Because new plants are produced from a single parent plant without the involvement of sex cells (or gametes) of the plant (f) clones