A stem section with a node buried in soil to produce a new plant
Explanation
Artificial vegetative propagation is a technique used in agriculture and horticulture to grow new plants from the vegetative parts (stems, roots, or leaves) of a parent plant. Cutting is one of the simplest and most widely used methods in this category.
Option Analysis
- A detached leaf induced to grow roots in a water medium is Incorrect: While leaf cuttings exist (e.g., in Bryophyllum or Sansevieria), the description of inducing roots specifically in a water medium is a variation often termed propagation in water or hydroponic rooting. The standard definition of "cutting" in agronomy primarily refers to planting a cut section in soil or a solid medium.
- A stem section with a node buried in soil to produce a new plant is Correct: A stem cutting involves removing a portion of the stem, which must contain at least one node (the point where leaves or buds attach). When this section is buried in moist soil, adventitious roots develop from the lower nodes, and shoots develop from the upper buds, establishing a new plant. Common examples include Rose, Sugarcane, and Bougainvillea.
- A reproductive spore released from a fern frond is Incorrect: This describes sporulation (spore formation), which is a natural method of asexual reproduction in non-flowering plants like ferns and mosses, not an artificial vegetative technique.
- A seed that has been scarified to enhance germination is Incorrect: This refers to scarification, a mechanical or chemical process used to break the dormancy of seeds by weakening the seed coat. Seeds are products of sexual reproduction, whereas cuttings are a method of asexual propagation.
Key Takeaway
Cutting is an artificial vegetative propagation method where a stem segment containing nodes is detached from a parent plant and planted in soil to regenerate a genetically identical new plant.