Budding in Asexual Reproduction: Definition, Types, and Examples

Budding is an asexual mode of reproduction in which a small outgrowth or bud from the parent’s body detaches on maturation and develops as an offspring. In this case, the new organism produced are always identical of their parent organism. This mode of reproduction occurs in both unicellular and multicellular organisms Examples of species that reproduce by budding are corals, bacteria, jellyfish, etc.

Other modes of asexual reproduction include fragmentation, binary fission, and vegetative propagation. In this article, we will learn the process of budding in asexual reproduction in more detail along with their types, examples and questions related to budding. 

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What is Budding?

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Budding is a method of asexual reproduction through which a new organism grows from the small outgrowth called ‘bud’ of the parent’s body. In some species, buds can be developed on any part of the organism’s body, but in some cases, buds appear from specialized areas. The cytoplasmic disruption in the basal portion of parent plant results into the formation of new bud. This bud gets separated from the parent when it matures and leaves scar tissue behind on the parent after separation.

• No genetic variation can be seen in this type of reproduction as the new organisms are identical to the parent organism.
• Budding occurs in fungi and algae as well as in complex organisms like hydra, yeasts, and few species of coral.
• No gametes formation takes place during the process of budding in organisms. 
• In yeast, a complete new organism is developed from a bulb like projection, called bud on the body of yeast. 
• Budding also takes place in potato as a new plant can be developed from a small outgrowth called “eyes” on potato.

​This process of asexual reproduction can be seen in both unicellular and multicellular organisms. The benefits of budding in asexual reproduction includes quick growth without requirement of energy and gamete formation. The examples of plants that reproduce through budding are Roses, Grapevines, Citrus trees, etc. 

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Types of Budding

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The process of budding in asexual reproduction is divided into two groups based on the location of development of bud. The two types of budding are Exogenous budding and Endogenous budding.

Exogenous Budding

In exogenous budding or external budding, the bud grows outside the body of the parent organism. This bud separates from the parent body when it matures. Examples of exogenous budding are bacteria, yeast, protozoans, and cnidarians. In yeasts, due to unequal division, the formation of small buds takes place which remain attached to the parent organism. 

Endogenous Budding

In endogenous budding or internal budding, the bud grows inside the body of the parent organism. Examples of endogenous budding are sponges from the phylum Porifera. In Spongilla, a number of buds called ‘gemmules’ are found inside the parent cell or organism, that mature into individual organisms.

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Budding in Animals

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Budding not only occurs in microorganisms like bacteria and yeast but also occurs in various animals. The new organisms produced are not exact copies of the parent organism but are similar. Sometimes, both and and female regenerative parts are found inside the bud. The common examples of budding in animals are flatworms, jellyfish, sea anemones, corals, etc.

Budding in Flatworms

Flatworms are the species that belong to the phylum Platyhelminthes that reproduce via budding. They lack a respiratory and a circulatory system and so absorb the nutrients and oxygen by diffusion. Flatworms fertilize their eggs and release them. These eggs divide to form new organisms. 

Budding in Jellyfish

Budding is not the primary mode of reproduction in jellyfish, but they do reproduce by this method. Reproduction in jellyfish occurs in two stages: poly and medusa. The Medusa stage is a sexual mode of reproduction where the jellyfish reproduces by releasing an egg in water. After this, the sperm and egg mature into a new organism called polyp. These organisms clone themselves and reproduce via budding.

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Budding in Plants

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Budding in Plants takes place by the transfer of developed bud to a target location of plant. It is a type of vegetative propagation, in which new plants are grown from vegetative parts of plants like shoots, leaves, and stems. Generally, a bud from one plant is transferred to the stem of another plant. There are different types of budding known in plants such as T-budding, chip budding, ring budding, patch budding, etc. Budding in plants is similar to grafting, which is also a type of vegetative propagation in plants. 

T-budding

T-budding is one of the most common type of budding in plants in which a bud is transferred to the rootstock. Such a type of budding is seen in plants of oranges, roses, peaches, and plums. This type of budding is more favourable in early spring or in the fall. As compared to other types of budding, T-budding is more common and time efficient method. 

Chip Budding

In chip budding, a bud present in the chip of the wood is cut and transferred to the rootstock. Grapes are a common example of plants that undergo chip budding. Fruit propagation and production of ornamental trees such as eastern redbud usually takes place through chip budding. 

Patch Budding

Patch Budding is one of the simplest budding techniques. In this technique, a rectangular bud patch is removed and inserted in the rootstock with a similarly shaped patch. It is then covered using a polythene strip or wax, exposing only the bud. The common examples of plants that develop through patch budding are citrus, walnut, mango, rubber, etc.

Ring Budding

Ring Budding also called annular budding includes the removal of a ring-shaped bark that has the bud. This bud is then inserted into the rootstock. Examples of plants developing through ring budding include peach and mulberry.

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Budding in Hydra

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Hydra is a freshwater organism which is 0.5 centimeters long. The process of reproduction in hydra does not involve the fusion of gametes and occurs by the following process:

• The first stage is the initiation stage, where a small bud grows on the parent body of the hydra.
• Later, the bud grows by cell division and differentiation occurs within the body of Hydra.
• When the bud matures, it separates itself from the parent body and grows into new individuals.
• The process of budding is continuous, and a single-parent hydra can produce multiple hydra and form colonies.

Budding in Hydra 

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Budding in Yeast

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Yeast is a eukaryotic, single-celled microorganism that belongs to the kingdom fungi. They are usually larger than bacteria, with a characteristic diameter of 3-4 microns.

• Yeast cells reproduce asexually by developing a small bud on the yeast cell wall.
• During the process, the nucleus of the mother cell undergoes mitotic cell division and produces two daughter nuclei.
• One of the two daughter nuclei shifts into the bud which has grown as outgrowth from the body.
• As the bud grows, a constriction between the bud and the mother cell forms resulting in the detachment of the bud.
• Now, this newly formed bud divides further into new yeast cells.

Budding in Yeast 

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Previous Years’s Questions

1. Meiosis takes place in...[NEET 2013]
2. The sexual reproduction is absent in….[NEET 1995]
3. For union between stock and scion in grafting which one is the first to occur….[NEET 1990]
4. A clone is ......… [KCET 2011]
5. Animals which possess cleidoic eggs exhibit….[KCET 2011]
6. Which among these is not a post fertilization event ?...[KCET 2016]
7. Type of asexual reproduction found in Hydra is..[KEAM]
8. Which of the following is having longitudinal binary fission ?….[KEAM]
9. In grafting, the stock and scion should be joined….
10. Banana is vegetatively propagated by… [AMUEEE 2012]
11. Vegetative propagation by leaves is seen in… [JKCET 2010]
12. Vegetative propagation in water hyacinth takes place by...[AMUEEE 2013]
13. A slender, prostrate subaerial branch of the stem which creeps along….

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Things to Remember

• Budding is a form of asexual reproduction that occurs in both single-celled and multi-cellular organisms.
• Parasites like Toxoplasma Gondi also reproduce via asexual mode of reproduction.
• Nut trees, dogwood, cherry, and citrus fruits are examples of trees that undergo the budding process.
• The offspring developed by this method are referred to as ‘clones’ because they are identical to their parent.
• The formation of two daughter cells inside a mother cell is called internal budding.