Question

A diagram shows a potato producing new tubers. Buds on the parent plant grow into stems that grow downwards called stolons. The end of each stolon develop in to new tuber.

1) Give two pieces of evidence which show that this is an asexual method of reproduction.

2) Explain why all the new tubers will be genetically identical.
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Answer 1

Answer:

See the answer below

Explanation:

Evidence that shows that the illustration is an asexual method of reproduction:

1. New tubers were produced without any signs of flowering or fertilization

2. Parent plant was produced from a vegetative part ( a tuber).

All the new tubers would be genetically identical because they were produced without fertilization. They all developed from the division of some of the vegetative cells (mitosis) of the parent plant. Hence, they are not only genetically identical with themselves but also with the  old tuber that produced the parent plant.