ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS

Brief description of unit

Plants give rise to young ones of their kind. This is either by seeds or vegetative part of the plant. The vegetative part may be a root, stem or leaf.
In this Unit learners will learn about vegetative reproduction as a form of asexual reproduction. They will also appreciate the fact that new off springs can be produced both naturally and artificially without involving the fusion of gametes.

 Content and outline

• Concept of vegetative reproduction in plants

• Stem tubers and bulbs

• Suckers and rhizomes and their parts

• Corm and its parts

• Differences between corm and rhizome

• Practical activity on drawing, and labelling of vegetative parts

• Artificial propagation; use of stem cuttings, budding, layering, grafting, marcotting                        

• Importance of artificial propagation in plant growth 

Objectives

• Define vegetative reproduction

• List plant parts used in vegetative reproduction

• Explain vegetative reproduction using leaves of Bryophyllum

• Describe structure of stem tuber and bulb

• Draw and label parts of sucker and rhizome

• Describe parts of a corm

• List differences between  a  rhizome and a corm

• Draw and label vegetative reproductive organs

• Explain how stem cuttings are used to produce new plants

• Describe the procedure used in marcotting, layering, grafting, to produce new plants 

• Explain the importance of artificial propagation with regard to crop production and profitability

Requirements or Materials

• Runner stems

• Suckers

• Bulbs

• Rhizomes

• Bryophyllum leaves having developing buds.

• Charts showing one or all the vegetative reproductive structures.

• Video showing the procedure for grafting, layering, marcotting or budding

• Animated video or story about the process of vegetative reproduction namely layering, marcotting.

• Charts showing the process of artificial propagation using marcotting, layering, cuttings, budding, grafting.

• Resource person to talk to learners about artificial vegetative reproductive means.

Job related life skills

By the end of this topic, learners are expected to have acquired the following Job  related Skills:

Personal attributes – self confidence, time management, creativity/imaginative, recording skills, enthusiasm, imagination, leadership skills and self awareness.

Communication – observation & listening skills, recording, reading, reporting in writing.

Team work – task-oriented leadership skills,group work.

Problem solving - information seeking, Practical experiment, environmental protection & conservation, seeking for information (research), discussion.

Application of number - numeracy (as they compare crop yields in treated and untreated plots)

Teachers' guide

Scheme of work

Lesson plan