Which propagation method yields offspring identical to the parent without using seeds?

Which propagation method yields offspring identical to the parent without using seeds?

• A. Asexual propagation
• B. Sexual propagation
• C. Hybridization
• D. Grafting

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that some plant reproduction happens without seeds and preserves the exact genetic makeup of the parent. Asexual propagation uses vegetative parts—like cuttings, tubers, bulbs, runners, divisions, or grafts—to produce new plants that are genetic copies of the parent. Because there’s no fertilization, there’s no genetic recombination, so the offspring are essentially clones of the parent. This contrasts with sexual propagation, which relies on seeds and introduces genetic variation. Hybridization is a form of sexual propagation that deliberately combines genes from two plants, and grafting is a specific asexual technique, but the question points to the general method that yields identical offspring without seeds, which is asexual propagation.

The key idea is that some plant reproduction happens without seeds and preserves the exact genetic makeup of the parent. Asexual propagation uses vegetative parts—like cuttings, tubers, bulbs, runners, divisions, or grafts—to produce new plants that are genetic copies of the parent. Because there’s no fertilization, there’s no genetic recombination, so the offspring are essentially clones of the parent. This contrasts with sexual propagation, which relies on seeds and introduces genetic variation. Hybridization is a form of sexual propagation that deliberately combines genes from two plants, and grafting is a specific asexual technique, but the question points to the general method that yields identical offspring without seeds, which is asexual propagation.