Advantages and Disadvantages of Vegetative Propagation

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Advantages

• The offsprings are genetically identical and therefore advantageous traits can be preserved.
• Only one parent is required which eliminates the need for special mechanisms such as pollination, etc.
• It is faster. For example, bacteria can multiply every 20 minutes. This helps the organisms to increase in number at a rapid rate that balances the loss in number due to various causes.
• Many plants are able to tide over unfavourable conditions. This is because of the presence of organs of asexual reproduction like the tubers, corm, bulbs, etc.
• Vegetative propagation is especially beneficial to the agriculturists and horticulturists. They can raise crops like bananas, sugarcane, potato, etc that do not produce viable seeds. The seedless varieties of fruits are also a result of vegetative propagation.
• The modern technique of tissue culture can be used to grow virus-free plants.

Disadvantages

• The plants gradually lose their vigour as there is no genetic variation. They are more prone to diseases that are specific to the species. This can result in the destruction of an entire crop.
• Since many plants are produced, it results in overcrowding and lack of nutrients.