Cloning

Runners (stolons) are a form of vegetative reproduction, which is a type of asexual reproduction. Only one parent plant is involved.

Because asexual reproduction involves only one parent and no fusion of gametes, all genetic material comes from that single parent. The offspring is therefore a genetic clone — genetically identical to the parent.

The new plant is genetically identical to the parent because it was produced by asexual reproduction (vegetative propagation). No mixing of genetic material from two parents occurs.

The question asks about the genetic relationship between the new plant and the parent plant when reproduction occurred via runners (asexual reproduction).

The option stating the plant is 'genetically similar but not identical because mutations occur during runner growth' is incorrect. While rare mutations can occur, the defining feature of asexual reproduction is that offspring are genetically identical clones.

Receiving half the genetic material is a feature of sexual reproduction, where each gamete contributes a haploid set. Runners do not involve gametes.

A combination of genetic material from two parents describes sexual reproduction. Runner propagation involves only one parent plant.

The correct answer is that the new plant is genetically identical to the parent because it was produced by asexual reproduction — the definition of a natural clone.

The question describes cells that have divided but not yet differentiated — they form an undifferentiated mass on the nutrient medium. This is a specific intermediate stage in plant tissue culture.

In plant tissue culture, after the explant is placed on the medium, cells divide to form an undifferentiated mass called a callus. This callus is later transferred to a different medium to stimulate shoot and root formation.

The correct term is callus. It is the undifferentiated cell mass that forms before shoots and roots are induced to develop.

The question asks for the name of the undifferentiated mass formed when plant cells divide on nutrient agar during tissue culture.

An explant is the original piece of tissue removed from the parent plant — not the mass that forms after cell division. The explant comes first in the process.

A blastocyst is an early-stage animal embryo formed after fertilisation — it is not a plant tissue culture term.

A somatic cell is any body cell of an organism — it refers to an individual cell, not the undifferentiated mass produced in tissue culture.

The correct answer is callus — the undifferentiated mass of cells formed in plant tissue culture before differentiation into shoots and roots is induced.