What is Budding?

Introduction

Budding is a method of asexual reproduction in which a new individual grows from a certain part of the parent plant also known as the bud.

To know more about budding, first we need to understand what asexual reproduction is.

Asexual reproduction is a type of reproduction where fusion of gametes does not occur. Hence, there is no change in the number of chromosomes. Moreover, the individuals that arise by this type of reproduction inherit the genes set of the mother plant. This is why the newly created individual is like the parent both genetically and physically. One can even argue that they are an exact clone of the parent.

In single-celled organisms, asexual reproduction is the primary form of reproduction. There are different types of asexual reproduction. These are fission, budding, vegetative propagation, spore formation, fragmentation, agamogenesis and parthenogenesis.

In this tutorial, we will focus on budding.

Budding

Budding specially occur in some unicellular organisms like some specific bacteria, yeast, and protozoans. In horticulture and agriculture, budding refers to the method in which a plant bud is propagated by joining them to the stems of different plants.

A part of the plant body starts multiplying cells which is also known as the bud. This bud may finally develop into an organism, copying the parent. This new offspring is of the same genetic material as that of the parent material. Sometimes the new individual may separate and live independent from their parent plant, or they may remain connected as buds, forming colonies. In some species, buds may be produced from any part of the body. In other cases, budding occurs only from specialized areas.

Examples of Budding

Budding is a type of asexual reproduction, commonly associated in both multicellular and unicellular organisms. Animal species like Bacteria, yeast, corals, flatworms, Jellyfish, and sea anemones also reproduce through budding.

Budding in Yeast

Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms belonging to the kingdom Fungi. They are non-green microorganisms usually greater than the bacteria. Yeast cells reproduce asexually by an asymmetric separation method called budding.

In yeast, budding typically occur when there is a rich supply of nutrition. The various steps involved in the process of budding are −

• A small bud rises as an outgrowth of the parent body.

• The size of the bud and its nucleus increases simultaneously.

• The nucleus of the parent cell divides into two parts. One of the nuclei undergoes further development.

• When the bud grows almost as large as the parent cell, a wall forms between the parent cell and the matured bud.

The fully grown bud may further reproduce another bud or it may detach itself from its parent cell. This process continues by repeating the same procedure.

Budding in Hydra

Hydra is a small freshwater organism of the Class Hydrozoa (Phylum Cnidaria). It has a thin translucent tubular body with tentacles at its end.

The various steps involved in the process of budding are −

• In Hydra, a bud grows as an outgrowth due to rapid mitotic cell division at one site.

• The buds grow into tiny characters. On receiving nutrition from the parent, these buds grow extensively almost the size of the parent.

• Slowly they even start developing mouth and small tentacles.

• Finally, when fully developed, hydra separates from its parent body and becomes an independent organism, leaving a scar tissue on the parental body.

Budding in Flatworms

Flatworms are animals that lack respiratory or circulatory systems and therefore does not have any openings in their body. They take in oxygen and other nutrients through diffusion.

Reproduction occurs in flatworms when they fertilize their own eggs and then free them. On freeing the eggs, they start dividing and go on to produce new individuals. All kinds of parasitic flatworms reproduce by this process.

Budding is an important adaptation for the parasitic flatworms, as it ensures that the offspring are certain to be born into the perfect habitat (host) where they can easily nourish themselves.

Budding in Jellyfish

Reproduction in jellyfish is a complex process. Throughout their lifecycle, transition between two body forms takes place i.e., medusa and polyps. The familiar body type, medusa, looks like an upside-down bell with tentacles hanging down from them. The polyps look more like sea anemone.

During the medusa stage, jellyfish reproduce sexually by releasing sperm and egg into the water. The sperm and egg grow into a simple organism called polyps, which survives by being attached to the base of a rock. Polyps reproduce asexually by budding off tiny jellyfish which then feed on planktons and gradually become an adult.

Budding in Sea Anemones

Sea anemones reproduce in a variety of ways. Asexual reproduction is common in sea anemones. Some of the asexual modes of reproduction includes pedal laceration, binary fission, longitudinal fission, and budding.

Sea anemones also reproduce in a similar way to jellyfish. The first step of reproduction is sexual where the gametes fuse to form a polyp. The polyps reproduce asexually by budding.

Budding in Corals

Corals are a vast colony of living organisms. They are marine invertebrates and reproduces asexually by budding. Due to budding, formation of huge colonies takes place at a very fast rate with least interference from external factors.

Budding in Agriculture

In agriculture and horticulture, budding is synonymous to grafting. A bud or a part of plant is used as a bud and will be planted on the other.

There are different types of budding in Plants. These are −

• T-Budding: T-budding is an easy form of grafting (propagating), where a bud is attached to a rootstock to produce a new individual plant.

• Ring Budding: In this type of budding, a part of the bark in the form of a ring is removed from the stock, and it is completely girdled. A similar ring of bark containing a bud is removed from the bud stick and is inserted on to the rootstock.

• Patch Budding: Patch budding is used for species that have thick bark like pecans (Carya). A rectangular patch of bark containing a single bud is taken from the scion and placed into a similar patch taken from the rootstock.

• Chip-budding: Chip budding is a method of propagating trees by grafting a growth bud from a tree of chosen variety to a rootstock. It is done in the summer when the buds are dormant, but the rootstocks are active. It is done mainly on ornamental and fruit species.

Conclusion

Budding is one of the methods by which an organism reproduces asexually. The main advantage of budding is that it is fast. The new organism formed will have the same genetic makeup as the parent. Numerous offspring are produced easily through this method. It does not require any mate as only one parent is needed in this process.

Certain disadvantages of this type of reproduction is that it does not exhibit genetic diversity, hence their DNA is exactly the same as the parent. The organisms cannot adapt to changes in the environment.

FAQs

Q1. What is budding?

Ans. Budding is an asexual mode of reproduction in which a new organism develops from a bud of an existing organism. Until the new organism matures, it remains attached to the parent organism.

Q2. Name two organisms where budding occurs?

Ans. Hydra and yeast are two organisms that reproduce by budding.

Q3. State some advantage of budding.

Ans. The main advantage of budding is that it is fast. The new organism formed will have the same genetic makeup as that of the parent. Numerous offspring can be produced easily through this method.