Reproduction in Plants

Chapter 12.
Q1. Describe the different methods of asexual reproduction . Give examples.
A.There are different methods by which plants reproduce asexually. They are vegetative propagation,
budding,fragmentation and spore formation. The vegetative parts of a plant are the roots, stems and
leaves. When new plants are produced from these parts, the process is called vegetative propagation.
1. Budding- A bulb like projection grows on the parent organism. It grows and may eventually break
away from the parent. E.g. yeast, hydra, corals, sponges.
2. Fragmentation- The organism breaks up into two or more fragments after maturation. These fragments
grow into new individuals. E.g. spirogyra, hydra
3. Spore formation- A spore is a tiny, spherical and unicellular body protected by a thick wall. Under
favourable conditions, a spore germinates and develops into a new individual. E.g. mosses, ferns, moulds

Q2. Describe the various ways by which seeds are dispersed.

A. Seeds and fruits are dispersed by agents like wind, water, animals and humans.
The pods present in these seeds dry up in the sun. This causes the pod to split with great force, thereby
dispersing the seeds away from the parent plant.
Some seeds are dispersed by a special method called explosion. Examples are mustard, ladies finger,
peas, bean, pod and castor.

Q3. How is fertilization brought about in a flower?

A. The zygote is formed by the fusion of the male and female gametes. This process is called
fertilisation. After fertilisation, the ovary changes into a fruit. It may be either fleshy or dry.

Q4. Write 4 advantages of vegetative propagation.

A.The advantages are- 1. New plants can be produced quickly.
2. The plants so produced are exact copies of parent plants
3. Seedless plants can be easily propagated.

Q5. Differentiate between:-

1. unisexual flowers and bisexual flowers-
Bisexual flowers contain both – the stamens and the pistil. For example, mustard and rose.
Unisexual flowers have either the stamens or the pistil. For example, cucumber, maize and watermelon
2. sexual and asexual reproduction
In sexual reproduction, the male and the female gametes fuse to form seeds that eventually develop into
new plants.
The seeds are formed inside the fruit. On the other hand, in asexual reproduction, a new plant is grown
from any part of a plant other than the seeds.

3. cross pollination and self pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of one flower, to the stigma of another flower on another
plant of the same type, is known as cross-pollination.
The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or to the stigma of another
flower on the same plant, it is termed self-pollination.

Q6. Why are flowers known as reproductive parts of a plant?

A.flowers are known as reproductive parts of a plant as flowers contain both male and female
reproductive structures as stamen and pistil respectively.
 Q7. What is the significance of dispersal of seeds and fruits?
A. A plant produces a large number of seeds. They are required to be dispersed properly to get enough
space, water and minerals and sunlight to grow healthy.

Q8. Why do spores can survive for a long time?

A. Spores are protected within a thick wall that makes it withstand unfavourable and extreme climate.

Q9. Which take less time to grow and bear flowers and fruits, plants produced by vegetative
propagation or from seeds? Why?
Ans: A plant produced by vegetative propagation takes less time to develop and bear fruits and flowers.
Plants grown from seeds require more attention and take good time to germinate and grow.

Q10. Write a short note on pollination.

A. It is the transfer of pollen grains from an anther to the stigma. Insects, birds and other animals help in
cross pollination of flowers. Insects are attracted by the colour and scent of petals. Winds can also blow
pollen grains. Such flowers such plants have flowers with small petals or with no petals at all.

Q11. Describe the process of seed formation.

A. After fertilization, petals, sepals and stamen wither away and fall off. Style and stigma also fall off.
The ovule walls develop hard layers and seed develop. Each seed contains embryo enclosed in a
protective seed coat.

Q12. Explain the process of fruit formation.

A. The ovary begins to swell. In time it becomes a fruit. So, a fruit is actually a developed ovary. Some
fruits, like mangoes and apples are sweet and juicy. Sometimes, they become hard and woody forming
the shells of nuts.

Q13. What are characteristics of seeds dispersed by water.

A. Seeds develop floating ability in the form of spongy or fibrous outer coat. E.g. coconut seeds have a
thick coat of fiber that enables it to float in water. Lotus fruit has a spongy part that enables it to float.

Q 14.Define reproduction.
Ans:Reproduction is life process of producing new individuals from their parents of its own kinds.

Q.15. What do you understand by the term 'leaf venetion'? What are the two types of leaf
venetion?
Ans: The arrangement of veins in a leaf is called the leaf venation.
Reticulate Venation :In this the veins form a network like structure
Parallel venation : In this the veinsrun paralell to each other

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

 Production of new individuals from the vegetative part of parent is called vegetative propagation.
 A flower may have either male or female reproductive parts. Such a flower is called unisexual.
 The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same or of another flower of the same
kind is known as pollination.
 The fusion of male and female gametes is termed as fertilisation.
 Seed dispersal takes place by means of wind, water and animals.
 Anther contains pollen grains which produce male gametes.
 Q2. True/False
 A spore producing organism is bread mould. True
 Bryophyllum can reproduce by its stem. False
 A bisexual flower has both the male and the female reproductive parts. True
 All organisms multiply or reproduce their own kind. True
 In plants there are three modes of reproduction. False
 Leaf is the reproductive part of a plant. False

Q3. Which is the reproductive part of a plant?

Ans. Flower is the reproductive part of a plant.

Q4. Name the cell formed as product of fertilization.

Ans. The cell which results after fusion of the gametes is called a zygote.

Q5. What is the male reproductive part of a flower?

Ans. Stamens are the male reproductive parts of flowers.

Q6. What is the female reproductive part of a flower?

Ans. Pistil is the female reproductive part of a flower.

Q7. What mature ovary turns into?

Ans. Mature ovary turns into a fruit.

Q8. What is a node?

Ans. A node is a part of the stem/branch at which a leaf arises.

Q9. Give examples of plants that reproduce by means of spores.

Ans. Plants such as moss and ferns reproduce by means of spores.

Q10. How fungi grow on bread?

Ans. Fungi on a bread piece grow from spores which are present in the air.

Q11. What are the two modes of reproduction in plants?

Ans. In plants there are two modes of reproduction, asexual and sexual.

Q12. What is fertilisation?

Ans. The process of fusion of male and female gametes (to form a zygote) is called fertilization.

Q13. What is reproduction?

Ans. The production of new individuals from their parents is known as reproduction.

Q14. Which plant grows from roots?

Ans. The roots of some plants can also give rise to new plants. Sweet potato and dahlia are examples.

Q15. How do cacti reproduce?

Ans. Plants such as cacti produce new plants when their parts get detached from the main plant body.
Each detached part can grow into a new plant.
Q16. What is pollination? Name its types.
Ans. The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of a flower is called pollination.Pollination is of
two types, self-pollination and cross-pollination.

Q17. What are unisexual flowers? Give examples.

Ans. Flowers which contain either only pistil or only stamens are called unisexual flowers.Corn, papaya
and cucumber produce unisexual flowers.

Q18. What are bisexual flowers? Give examples.

Ans. Flowers which contain both stamens and pistil are called bisexual flowers. Mustard, rose and
petunia have bisexual flowers.

Q19. What are the different modes of asexual reproduction?

Ans. There are several methods of asexual reproduction such as fragmentation, budding, spore formation
and vegetative propagation.

Q20. What are the vegetative parts of plants?

Ans. In vegetative propagation new plants are produced from different vegetative parts such as leaves,
stems and roots.

Q21. Explain what you understand by sexual reproduction.

Ans. Sexual reproduction produces offspring by the fusion of gametes, resulting in offspring genetically
different from the parent or parents.

Q22. State the main difference between asexual and sexual reproduction.
Ans. In asexual reproduction plants can give rise to new plants without seeds, whereas in sexual
reproduction, new plants are obtained from seeds.

Q23. What will happen if all seeds of a plant were to fall at the same place and grow there?
Ans. There would be severe competition for sunlight, water, minerals and space. As a result the seeds
would not grow into healthy plants.

Q24. What is the function of flowers in plants?

Ans. The flowers perform the function of reproduction in plants. Flowers are the reproductive parts of a
plant. A flower may have either the male part or the female part or both male and female parts.

Q25. How are plants benefited by seed dispersal?

Ans. Plants benefit by seed dispersal. It prevents competition between the plant and its own seedlings for
sunlight, water and minerals. It also enables the plants to invade new habitats for wider distribution.

Q26. What types of seeds are dispersed by animals?

Ans. Some seeds are dispersed by animals, especially spiny seeds with hooks which get attached to the
bodies of animals and are carried to distant places. Examples are Xanthium and Urena.

Q27. How do potatoes reproduce?

Ans. Potatoes can be grown asexually by vegetative reproduction. This can be done by planting a part of
potato with an eye and watering it regularly for few days. The new stem start on the eyes of the potato
and a potato plant will develop.
Q28. How do plants reproduce?
Ans. There are several ways by which plants produce their offspring. These are categorised into two
types: (i) asexual and (ii) sexual reproduction. In asexual reproduction plants can give rise to new plants
without seeds, whereas in sexual reproduction, new plants are obtained from seeds.

Q29. How does sexual reproduction take place in flowering plants?

Ans. Anther contains pollen grains which produce male gametes. A pistil consists of stigma, style and
ovary. Ovary contains one or more ovules. The female gamete or the egg is formed in an ovule. In sexual
reproduction a male and a female gamete fuse to form a zygote.

Q30. Explain the difference between self-pollination and cross-pollination.

Ans. If the pollen lands on the stigma of the same flower it is called self-pollination. When the pollen of
a flower lands on the stigma of another flower of the same plant, or that of a different plant of the same
kind, it is called cross-pollination.

Q31. How can we grow a new rose plant from the parent plant?
Ans. A new rose plant can be grown by cutting off a part of the stem of an existing plant, with two or
more nodes, and planting it in the ground. A node is a part of the stem from where a leaf grows. This
stem grows into a new rose plant.

Q32. How fruits and seeds are formed?

Ans. After fertilisation, the ovary grows into a fruit and other parts of the flower fall off. The fruit is the
ripened ovary. The seeds develop from the ovules. The seed contains an embryo enclosed in a protective
seed coat.
Some fruits are fleshy and juicy such as mango and orange. Some fruits are hard like almonds and
walnuts.

Q33. How do algae reproduce?

Ans. Slimy green patches are seen in ponds, or in other stagnant water bodies. These are the algae. When
water and nutrients are available algae grow and multiply rapidly by fragmentation. An alga breaks up
into two or more fragments. These fragments or pieces grow into new individuals. This process
continues and they cover a large area in a short period of time.

Q34. What do you mean by vegetative propagation? Explain with example.

Ans. It is a type of asexual reproduction in which new plants are produced from roots, stems, leaves and
buds. Since reproduction is through the vegetative parts of the plant, it is known as vegetative
propagation. Most yeasts reproduce asexually by an asymmetric division process called budding. When
water and nutrients are available algae grow and multiply rapidly by fragmentation.

Q35. How plants such as moss and ferns reproduce?

Ans. Plants such as moss and ferns also reproduce by means of spores. Spores are asexual reproductive
bodies. Each spore is covered by a hard protective coat to withstand unfavourable conditions such as
high temperature and low humidity. So they can survive for a long time. Under favourable conditions, a
spore germinates and develops into a new individual.

Q36. How does reproduction take place in yeast?

Ans. Yeast is a single-celled organism. The small bulb-like projection coming out from the yeast cell is
called a bud. The bud gradually grows and gets detached from the parent cell and forms a new yeast cell.
The new yeast cell grows, matures and produces more yeast cells. Sometimes, another bud arises from
the bud forming a chain of buds. If this process continues, a large number of yeast cells are produced in a
short time.

Q37. How does the process of fertilisation take place in flowers?

Ans. When ripe pollen from an anther of the same kind of flower catches on the stigma, each pollen
grain sends out a tiny threadlike tube. The tube grows down through the style and pierces one of the
ovules in the ovary. This pollen tube carries a male gamete to meet a female gamete in an ovule. Two
gametes fuse together to form zygote. The process of fusion of male and female gametes (to form a
zygote) is called fertilisation. The zygote develops into an embryo.

Q38. How the male gamete in the pollen grain reaches the female gamete present in the ovule?
Ans. Generally pollen grains have a tough protective coat which prevents them from drying up. Since
pollen grains are light, they can be carried by wind or water. Insects visit flowers and carry away pollen
on their bodies. Some of the pollen lands on the stigma of a flower of the same kind. Some pollen of a
flower may lands on the stigma of a flower of a different plant of the same kind. Pollen grain on the
stigma grows a tiny tube, all the way down the style to the ovary. This pollen tube carries a male gamete
to meet a female gamete in an ovule.

Q39. Show self-pollination and cross pollination via a labelled diagram.

Ans.

Image From NCERT

Q40. Sketch the reproductive parts of a flower.
Ans.

Image From NCERT

Q41. Describe the various ways by which seeds are dispersed.

Ans. Seeds and fruits of plants are carried away by wind, water and animals.
Winged seeds such as those of drumstick and maple, light seeds of grasses or hairy seeds of aak (Madar)
and hairy fruit of sunflower get blown off with the wind to far away places.
Some seeds are dispersed by water. These fruits or seeds usually develop floating ability in the form of
spongy or fibrous outer coat as in coconut. Some seeds are dispersed by animals, especially spiny seeds
with hooks which get attached to the bodies of animals and are carried to distant places. Examples are
Xanthium and Urena.
Some seeds are dispersed when the fruits burst with sudden jerks. The seeds are scattered far from the
parent plant. This happens in the case of castor and balsam.

Q42. Explain reproduction through spore formation in fungus.

Ans. Fungi on a bread piece grow from spores which are present in the air. When spores are released
they keep floating in the air. As they are very light they can cover long distances. Spores are asexual
reproductive bodies. Each spore is covered by a hard protective coat to withstand unfavourable
conditions such as high temperature and low humidity. So they can survive for a long time. Under
favourable conditions, a spore germinates and develops into a new individual.

Image From NCERT

Q43. Describe the different methods of asexual reproduction. Give examples.

Ans. Different methods of asexual reproduction
Vegetative propagation - It is a type of asexual reproduction in which new plants are produced from
roots, stems, leaves and buds. Example - Bryophyllum (sprout leaf plant) has buds in the margins of
leaves. If a leaf of this plant falls on a moist soil, each bud can give rise to a new plant.
Fragmentation – It is a form of asexual reproduction in which an organism is split into fragments. Each
of these fragments develop into matured, fully grown individuals that are clones of the original organism.
Example – When water and nutrients are available algae grow and multiply rapidly by fragmentation.
Spore Formation – The spores are asexual reproductive bodies. In spore formation parent plant produces
tiny spores which can then produce new plants. Example - Plants such as moss and ferns also reproduce
by means of spores.
Budding - Budding is a type of asexual reproduction in which a new organism develops from an
outgrowth or bud due to cell division at one particular site. The small bulb like projection coming out
from the yeast cell is called a bud. Example - Most yeasts reproduce asexually by an asymmetric division
process called budding.