Chapter 10, Problem 1AC

Many plants car. reproduce sexually or asexually. Strawberries, for example, can reproduce asexually by sending out horizontal stems cabled runners that root and form new plants, or they can reproduce sexually by flowering and producing fruit and seeds. Describe some advantages and disadvantages of each type of reproduction in wild plants. Include in your discussion the important aspects of the environments in which runners and seeds are likely to find themselves.

Summary Introduction

To describe:

The advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction in wild plants. Also, describe the important aspects of the environment in which runners and seeds are likely to find themselves.

Concept introduction:

Reproduction is a process through which new individuals are produced. Reproduction can be sexual and asexual. Asexual reproduction is a type of reproduction, which does not involve the fusion of sex cells or gametes, and the offspring produced from a single parent and inherit the genetics of that parent only. Whereas, the sexual reproduction involves the fusion of the two gametes that are derived from male and female individuals.

Explanation of Solution

The advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction in wild plants are:

Sexual reproduction:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Sexual reproduction helps in the genetic diversity.	Required high energy cost mating and protecting against rivals.
Sexual reproduction involves two parent organisms of the same species that results in genetic variation in offspring.	Produces only a few offspring.
The offspring produced by the sexual reproduction can survive in a range of different conditions.	It takes very long of a time to produce the offspring.

Asexual reproduction:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Only single parent is required to produce the new one.	As no recombination of genes occurs the chance of evolution is very low.
It takes very short time for the production of the new offspring. And produce a large number of offspring.	The offspring of asexual reproduction are same as the parent; means the genetic variation is absent.
As no crossover and recombination of genes are involved, chances of mutation are very less.	The offspring is vulnerable to the same disease as the parents. As because the genetic material directly passes from the parents to the offspring.

Runners are the adventitious roots which grow on the earth’s surface just beneath the ground. The nodes are present throughout the roots from where a new plant arises. Strawberry is a common example of plants that grow runners.

Runners and seeds require optimum environmental conditions for the proper growth and development, such as proper temperature (they mostly grow better in medium-high intermediate temperature). They also require the proper amount of water, pH of the soil, and oxygen for the optimal growth and development.

Conclusion

Thus, strawberry is a type of plant that can be developed by both sexual and asexual modes of reproduction. Runners are the modified stem or also called stolons that contain the nodes from where a new plant development.