Question

You are given diagrams of
A. section through bulb of onion and
B. ginger

Answer the questions that follow.
(a) Name the modes of reproduction in both A and B.
(b) List one similarity and one difference between them.
(c) Give two advantages of their respective modes of reproduction.
figure

Answer 1

(a) The mode of reproduction in A and B is vegetative propagation by stem. Vegetative propagation is the mode of asexual reproduction in which new plants are obtained from the vegetative parts of a plant. Onion reproduces vegetatively through the bulb and ginger reproduces through the rhizome.

(b) Similarity: Both of these are modified stems situated below the surface of the soil.
Difference: Onion reproduces vegetatively through the bulb, while ginger reproduces vegetatively through the rhizome.

(c) Advantages of vegetative reproduction:
(i) It is a natural method of propagation. Characters of the parent plants are preserved.
(ii) It is an easy and cheap method of propagation.