Plantlets

Page
1

Slide 1

PLANTLETS

Intermediate 1 Biology

Slide 2

INTRODUCTION

A plantlet is a tiny version of a plant still attached somewhere to its parent plant

The plantlets obtain food from the parent plant until they are established

Slide 3

Obtaining Plantlets

Plantlets can be obtained by different methods:

1. production of plantlets from runners

2. production of leaf plantlets

3. production of plantlets from offsets

Slide 4

1. PRODUCTION OF PLANTLETS FROM RUNNERS

Some types of plants produce plantlets at the end of ‘horizontal’ stems called runners.

Slide 5

Spider plant

Slide 6

Method Of Obtaning Plantlets From Runners

The plantlet can be ‘pegged down’ into a small pot of compost using wire

When the roots are established, the runner is cut close to the new plant and the wire removed

Slide 7

Production Of Plantlets From Runners

Slide 8

2. PRODUCTION OF LEAF PLANTLETS

Some types of plant develop plantlets on the edges of mature leaves

These can be detached from the leaf and grown in small pots of compost

An example of this is the Mexican Hat plant

Slide 9

Mexican Hat Plant

Slide 10

In other plants, a plantlet develops at the base of each mature leaf where it meets the leaf stalk.

An example of this is the Piggy-Back plant

Slide 11

Piggyback Plant

Slide 12

3. PRODUCTION OF PLANTLETS FROM OFFSETS

An offset is a tiny plantlet that develops as a side shoot at the base of the parent plant

Sometimes different offsets are produced and these then form a clump at the base of the parent plant

An example of this is the Mother-in-law’s Tongue plant

Slide 13

Mother-In-Law’s Tongue Plant

Slide 14

Methods Of Propagating Offsets