Offsets are produced by:

Options

A. Meiotic divisions
B. Parthenogenesis
C. Parthenocarpy
D. Mitotic divisions

Answer

To answer the question "Offsets are produced by:", we need to understand the concept of offsets and how they are formed in plants.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Definition of Offsets**: Offsets are a type of vegetative reproduction in plants. They are small, new plants that grow from the base of the parent plant.

2. **Understanding the Process**: Offsets are produced through a process that does not involve fertilization. This means that the new plants are clones of the parent plant, genetically identical to it.

3. **Role of the Mother Plant**: The mother plant has shoots that grow and develop into daughter plants. These daughter plants are the offsets.

4. **Asexual Reproduction**: The formation of offsets is a form of asexual reproduction. This means that it occurs without the involvement of gametes (sperm and egg cells) and fertilization.

5. **Mechanism of Formation**: The offsets are formed through mitotic divisions. Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells. In the case of offsets, multiple mitotic divisions occur in the shoots of the mother plant, leading to the development of new plants.

6. **Examples of Plants**: An example of a plant that produces offsets is the water hyacinth. This plant reproduces asexually, producing offsets that grow into new plants.

7. **Conclusion**: Therefore, offsets are produced by the process of mitotic division in the shoots of the mother plant, leading to the formation of genetically identical daughter plants.

### Final Answer:
Offsets are produced by mitotic division in the shoots of the mother plant.