When is asexual reproduction advantageous in plants

With sexual reproduction, this has been a huge advantage, as we are able to mix gene pools to ensure a diverse ecosystem. It poses some inheritance issues. Most of the time, it would only require a single asexual parent from which we can copy chromosomes and genes, which means the genetic defects or mutations that are bred out in asexual reproduction would still exist in the offspring without any exception.

This disadvantage can even lead to more unfavorable mutations, which make asexually produced organisms susceptible to diseases, which also means a huge number of offspring would be destroyed. It can lead organisms to being prone to extinction. All of the same traits and characteristics also entail all of the same weaknesses, so we can assume that a certain parasite or predator that has evolved to kill a particular asexual organism will be able to take out its entire population.

In simple terms, asexual reproduction can lead to struggle for existence. It carries problems with population control. Basically, this form of reproduction has no control over the rapid increases of population of the subject organisms.

As competition in the breeding process does not exist, each organism is highly proficient in reproducing by itself, which means that its population will even be doubled in each reproductive cycle. However, it has been found out by scientists that the process would stop at a certain point where its number becomes excessive.

It causes organisms to not being able to adapt. With asexual reproduction, organisms are able to establish reactions to certain things, which are then passed down to their offspring. And because there is less variation produced with the offspring, they would become less adapted to certain changes in the environment, causing them not to survive.

It would result to poor conditions for the subjects. The process of asexually reproducing organisms can lead to unfavorable conditions for the subjects, such as extreme temperatures, which can eliminate their entire communities. The main difference between asexual and sexual reproduction is that the former does not need for two parents, as well as special cells, to be able to breed, which means that it only uses simple mitosis, where special mechanisms to combine sex cells and allow fertilization are no longer needed.

Most of the time, plants are believed to undergo such a process, but it is also important to note that there are also several kinds of animals that reproduce asexually. Asexual reproduction allows smaller organisms to continue to reproduce, especially when there is the possibility of being stationary throughout their entire life cycle. Numerous offspring can be produced and offspring can be produced more often because of the lower energy requirements which are involved in the process.

In plant organisms, asexual reproduction eliminates the need for seeds. Certain crops are used by modern society in high levels. Sugarcane and jasmine are two common examples. Thanks to asexual reproduction, it becomes possible to propagate large crops of these needed items even if they do not grow from seeds or possess them. Plants that are grown through the asexual reproduction process also tend to bear their fruit earlier in the growing season than those which require pollination or sexual reproduction.

Crop losses can be balanced with this reproduction method. Any yield will experience some level of loss over the course of a growing season. Thanks to asexual reproduction, it becomes possible to rapidly regenerate a current generation of crops so that yields can be maximized.

Even organisms which receive an injury can be rehabilitated through the propagation processes which are involved in this reproduction cycle. Maturity is rapid. For plants that utilize the asexual reproductive cycle, maturity can happen in as few as 6 weeks. For plants that rely on sexual reproduction, the maturity process for a crop yield can be several months. This shortened growing time makes it possible for multiple yields in some environments.

Negative mutations linger longer in asexual organisms. Because the offspring of an asexual organism is essentially a clone of the parent, any negative mutations that are within the genetics of the organism will be passed down to the offspring.

This increases the risks of an asexual species to eventually become extinct as most mutations tend to be more negative than positive, especially with the limited evolution that is available to such a species. Diversity is limited. Because only one parent is involved in reproduction with an asexual organism, the diversity within the species is extremely limited. This makes a species more susceptible to various diseases or infections because there is a lack of an ability to adapt or fight off such a problem.

Without outside intervention, many asexual organisms would either need to adapt over time to increase genetic diversity or their population numbers would be extremely limited. Population numbers can be difficult to control. Because the reproductive process is easier to complete, for many asexual organisms, it happens more often than with sexual reproduction.

This means population numbers for a species can increase at a dramatic rate, especially when there are favorable environmental conditions which support the reproductive cycle.

Add in the fact that there is no competition for breeding and the possibility of the population of an organism doubling with every reproductive cycle becomes a possibility. There can be an inability to adapt.

Asexual organisms are not always able to adapt to a changing environment or habitat. This is especially true if there is some sort of predator or disease which can develop the ability to seek and destroy the asexual organism.

With its limited evolutionary access, any evolution that targets the organism could destroy the entire species in a short amount of time. Overcrowding can be a real issue.

One parent can produce a high number of offspring in a limited period. As each generation progresses to the next, more organisms than what the environment can support may become a possibility. Overcrowding creates a lack of resources that could stop the organism from future growth. Population levels will stabilize to support a maximum number of organisms, but that comes at the expense of starvation.

Individual parts of plants, such as flowers and leaves, have different rates of survival. In many trees, the older leaves turn yellow and eventually fall from the tree.

Leaf fall is triggered by factors such as a decrease in photosynthetic efficiency due to shading by upper leaves or oxidative damage incurred as a result of photosynthetic reactions.

The components of the part to be shed are recycled by the plant for use in other processes, such as development of seed and storage. This process is known as nutrient recycling. However, the complex pathways of nutrient recycling within a plant are not well understood. The aging of a plant and all the associated processes is known as senescence, which is marked by several complex biochemical changes. One of the characteristics of senescence is the breakdown of chloroplasts, which is characterized by the yellowing of leaves.

The chloroplasts contain components of photosynthetic machinery, such as membranes and proteins. Chloroplasts also contain DNA. The proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids are broken down by specific enzymes into smaller molecules and salvaged by the plant to support the growth of other plant tissues. Hormones are known to play a role in senescence. Applications of cytokinins and ethylene delay or prevent senescence; in contrast, abscissic acid causes premature onset of senescence. Plant senescence : The autumn color of these Oregon Grape leaves is an example of programmed plant senescence.

Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Plant Reproduction. Search for:. Asexual Reproduction. Asexual Reproduction in Plants Plants can reproduce asexually, without the fertilization of gametes, by either vegetative reproduction or apomixis.

Learning Objectives Summarize methods of asexual reproduction in plants. Key Takeaways Key Points Asexual reproduction produces individuals that are genetically identical to the parent plant.

Roots such as corms, stem tubers, rhizomes, and stolon undergo vegetative reproduction. Some plants can produce seeds without fertilization via apomixis where the ovule or ovary gives rise to new seeds.

Advantages of asexual reproduction include an increased rate of maturity and a sturdier adult plant. Asexual reproduction can take place by natural or artificial means. Key Terms stolon : a shoot that grows along the ground and produces roots at its nodes; a runner apomixis : process of reproduction in which plants produce seeds without fertilization. Natural and Artificial Methods of Asexual Reproduction in Plants Plants can undergo natural methods of asexual reproduction, performed by the plant itself, or artificial methods, aided by humans.

Learning Objectives Distinguish between natural and artificial methods of asexual reproduction in plants. Key Takeaways Key Points In natural asexual reproduction, roots can give rise to new plants, or plants can propagate using budding or cutting.

In grafting, part of a plant is attached to the root system of another plant; the two unite to form a new plant containing the roots of one and the stem and leaf structure of the other. Cutting is the process in which the stem of a plant is placed in moist soil or water to generate a new root system.

Micropropagation is the process in which part of a plant is placed in plant culture medium and provided with all the hormones and nutrients it needs in order to generate new plants. When part of a plant is placed in plant culture medium and provided with all the hormones and nutrients it needs, it can generate new plants; this is known as micropropagation.

Key Terms layering : a method of plant propagation in which a bent stem is covered with soil in order to generate new roots grafting : process of attaching part of a stem from one plant onto the root of another plant micropropagation : practice of rapidly multiplying plant material to produce a large number of progeny plants using plant tissue culture methods cutting : placing part of a stem containing nodes or internodes in water or moist soil in order to produce new plants.

Plant Life Spans The life cycles and life spans of plants vary and are affected by environmental and genetic factors. Learning Objectives Explain the process of aging in plants. Key Takeaways Key Points The life span of a plant is the length of time it takes from the beginning of development until death, while the life cycle is the series of stages between the germination of the seed until the plant produces its own seeds.

Annuals complete their life cycle in one season; biennials complete their life cycle in two seasons; and perennials complete their life cycle in more than two seasons. Monocarpic plants flower only once in their lifetime, while polycarpic plants flower more than once. Plant survival depends on changing environmental conditions, drought, cold, and competition.

Senescence refers to aging of the plant, during which components of the plant cells are broken down and used to support the growth of other plant tissues. Key Terms annual : a plant which naturally germinates, flowers, and dies in one year biennial : a plant that requires two years to complete its life cycle perennial : a plant that is active throughout the year or survives for more than two growing seasons monocarpic : a plant that flowers and bears fruit only once before dying polycarpic : bearing fruit repeatedly, or year after year senescence : aging of a plant; accumulated damage to macromolecules, cells, tissues, and organs with the passage of time.