Name:_____________________________ Grade & Section:_________ Score:_________
Teacher:___________________________ Date:____________________ Rating:________
Activity 1
Can you grow new plants from “eyes”?
A potato tuber is a specialized stem which functions as a food storage
organ. Let us investigate how tubers can be used in growing new plants.
Objectives
After you have performed this activity, you should be able to:
a) describe how potatoes reproduce.
b) explain what vegetative reproduction is.
c) describe the advantages of growing plants using vegetative
reproduction.
Materials Needed
1 potato
5 big cans filled with garden soil
(you may use big cans of powdered milk)
Trowel
Knife
Procedure
1. Examine the potato. Can you
see depressions? These are
the “eyes” or buds.
2. Cut the potato into pieces with each piece having an “eye”. Observe how the
cut pieces look.
3. Set aside the cut pieces for 2-3 days. Draw and describe how the
cut pieces look after 3 days.
4. After 3 days, plant each piece in a can, about 10-cm deep. Set the tuber so
that the “eye” points upward.
Q1. Can you give a reason why it is better to plant the cut pieces with
the “eye” pointing upward?
5. Set aside the cans in a shady area. Water the soil every day to keep
it moist.