PLANTLETS Intermediate 1 Biology

INTRODUCTION A plantlet is a tiny version of a plant still attached somewhere to its parent plant The plantlets obtain food from the parent plant until they are established

OBTAINING PLANTLETS Plantlets can be obtained by different methods: 1.production of plantlets from runners 2.production of leaf plantlets 3.production of plantlets from offsets

1. PRODUCTION OF PLANTLETS FROM RUNNERS Some types of plants produce plantlets at the end of ‘horizontal’ stems called runners.

Spider plant

METHOD OF OBTANING PLANTLETS FROM RUNNERS The plantlet can be ‘pegged down’ into a small pot of compost using wire When the roots are established, the runner is cut close to the new plant and the wire removed

PRODUCTION OF PLANTLETS FROM RUNNERS

2. PRODUCTION OF LEAF PLANTLETS Some types of plant develop plantlets on the edges of mature leaves These can be detached from the leaf and grown in small pots of compost An example of this is the Mexican Hat plant

Mexican Hat Plant

In other plants, a plantlet develops at the base of each mature leaf where it meets the leaf stalk. An example of this is the Piggy-Back plant

Piggyback Plant

3. PRODUCTION OF PLANTLETS FROM OFFSETS An offset is a tiny plantlet that develops as a side shoot at the base of the parent plant Sometimes different offsets are produced and these then form a clump at the base of the parent plant An example of this is the Mother-in-law’s Tongue plant

Mother-In- Law’s Tongue Plant

METHODS OF PROPAGATING OFFSETS A plant with offsets can be propagated by division This means separating the offsets from the parent, normally using a sharp knife The offsets can then be planted in new locations

Offsets of Mother-In-Law’s Tongue

Advantages of Vegetative Propagation Exact copies of parent plants can be produced in most cases Often simple and relatively quick Large plants can sometimes be produced in a short period of time Good quality and uniformity among plants produced

Disadvantages of Vegetative Propagation All offspring share common susceptibility to disease Not suitable if variation is desired

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