What is vegetative reproduction?

Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants where new individuals are produced from the vegetative parts of the parent plant, such as stems, roots, or leaves, rather than through the formation of seeds. This process allows plants to propagate quickly and efficiently, enabling them to maintain their genetic identity since the offspring are clones of the parent plant. Examples of vegetative reproduction include methods such as rooting of cuttings, sprouting of tubers, and the development of runners or stolons.

The other options describe different aspects of plant reproduction that do not involve vegetative parts. For instance, producing seeds from flowers is sexual reproduction, while the production of new plants from seeds also constitutes sexual reproduction and involves genetic variation. Additionally, the growth of plants solely from soil nutrients does not capture the essence of vegetative reproduction, as it overlooks the importance of plant structures involved in the process.