Question

Why is it disadvantageous to grow plants vegetatively?

Answer 1

Vegetative propagation

1. Growing plants vegetatively means to use non-reproductive plant parts for growing new plants.
2. This is known as vegetative propagation which is an asexual mode of reproduction seen in plants.
3. Like leaves of Bryophyllum have buds on them which can give rise to new Bryophyllum plants if favourable conditions are available.
4. But this mode of reproduction have certain disadvantages as mentioned below:

• As all the new plants are genetically identical to the parent plant, the chances of all of them getting simultaneously affected by a disease is very high.
• The new plants do not get dispersed and grow very close to each other so this results in a competition between them for nutrients.
• This can lead to the improper development or death of few new plants.
• As only one parent is involved, any poor qualities of the parent plant will be inherited by the new plants.
• There is no chance of variation.