A thickened underground stem X of a plant which is swollen with stored food has a number of points Y on its surface. When the old stem X is planted in the soil of a field in the next growing season, then each point Y present on its surface grows into a new plant.
(a) What is the general name of the underground stems like X?
(b) Give one example of X.
(c) What are points Y present on X known as?
(d) Is it necessary to plant the whole of stem X in the ground to obtain its new plants? Explain your answer.
(e) What is the name of this method of reproduction of plants?
(f) What is the advantage of growing new plants from the underground stems like X ?
(a) Stem tubers (X)
(b) Potato tuber
(c) Eyes or Buds
(d) No, it is not necessary, even cut pieces of stem tuber (X) can be planted in the soil to produce new plants provided each cut piece has an eye or bud on it
(e) Vegetative propagation by tubers
(f) The method of vegetative propagation is much faster than the production of new plants from their seeds.