ASEXUAL AND VEGETATIVE

PROPAGATION
Asexual Reproduction

Rapidly produces large

numbers of individuals,
usually having a genetic
composition to each other
and to the single parent
from which they are
derived.
Gametes are never
involved.

Binary Fission

This occurs in single-celled

organisms such as
bacteria and protozoans
The organism divides into
two or more parts each of
which leads a separate
existence

 The bacterial DNA

replicates first and the

nucleoplasm then divides
into two followed by the
cell as a whole
Under favourable
conditions the daughter
cells grow rapidly and may
themselves divide within
20 minutes.

Budding
An outgrowth develops on

the parent and this later

becomes detached and is
then and independent
organism
The process occurs in some
segmented and flat worms
Budding which is a little
more than binary fission
results in the formation of
two cells not equal in size.
This occurs in yeast cells.

Fragmentation
In one sense fragmentation

is no more than a form of

regeneration
If certain organisms are
divided into sections, each
portion will regenerate the
missing parts thus giving
rise to new individuals.
If the division occurs as a
result of injury then the
process is regeneration

 if an organism regularly

and spontaneously divides

itself up in this way the
process is fragmentation
Organism exhibiting
fragmentation must have
relatively undifferentiated
tissues

Spore formation

Sporulation is the

formation of small
unicellular bodies called
spores which detach from
the parents and if
conditions are favourable
will grow into new
organisms
Sporulation occurs in
bacteria, protozoans,
algae ,fungi mosses and
ferns

Bacterial and plant

spores

ASEXUAL
REPRODUCTION
Advantages
Enables new plants to

Disadvantages
Since there is no

fertilisation of gametes,
spread more rapidly when
there is no genetic variation
species dispersal involves
occurring among the
spores or rhizomes
subsequent generations
Enables the offspring to
As the offspring are
adapt to its environment
genetically identical to the
better as it is genetically
parent they lack the ability
identical to its parents
to develop resistance to
that has adapted well with
new diseases or different
special characteristics
environmental conditions

Advantages

Disadvantages

Enables offspring to be

Wastage of energy and

produced with only one

parent and reduces the
need for finding sexual
mates or sexually
compatible parents
Enables offspring to be
produced in great
numbers, especially in
bacteria, as binary fission
occurs rapidly

substances required during

production of spores may
occur if the spores are
unable to germinate
As the offspring are
genetically identical to the
parent plants, too many of
them spreading within the
same area will exhaust the
nutrients needed and cause
overcrowding

Tissue culture
This method involves

removing certain plant

tissues and growing these
tissues in an agar culture
containing nutrients as
well as plant hormones,
such as auxins and
cytokinins
Meristematic tissues from
apical buds are used

 If non-meristematic tissue

is used a callus will grow

in the culture
The conditions for this
method include controlled
temperature, light
intensity, sterile
environment, length of
daylight and humidity

Advantages

Disadvantages

New plants are grown in

The techniques required in

sterile conditions that

prevent any bacterial or
fungal infection from
affecting the plants
Methods are carried out
independent of seasonal
changes that tend to affect
sexual reproduction
New plants can still be
produced in any season
when needed.

these methods involve

skilled staff compared to
conventional seed planting
and this may increase the
economic cost of
propagating commercial
plants
The equipment used are
more expensive to purchase
and maintain, therefore the
operation cost is higher

Cutting
This method involves

cutting and removing

parts of the flowering
plant
These plants are
commercially propagated
this way to produce new
plants faster than
conventional methods to
meet supply demands

 The cuttings has to be

placed in a suitable
medium with nutrients for
growth where rooting
takes place
Rooting hormones may
also be used to stimulate
the faster growth of the
roots from the cutting.