which crop can be propagated both sexually and vegetatively

Answer Details

The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a crop that can be propagated both sexually and vegetatively.

Sexual propagation: Oil palm produces seeds (palm nuts) that can be germinated to grow new plants. This is the most common method of commercial oil palm propagation, using selected seed from controlled crosses of high-yielding parent palms.

Vegetative propagation: Oil palm can also be propagated vegetatively through tissue culture (clonal propagation) and through the separation of suckers (offshoots) that develop at the base of the palm. Tissue culture allows mass production of genetically identical copies of elite palms with high oil yield.

The other crops listed - millet, maize, and groundnut - are propagated almost exclusively by sexual means (seeds). While some grasses can theoretically be divided, millet, maize, and groundnut are not commercially propagated through vegetative methods in standard agricultural practice.

Exam tip: Crops that can be propagated both ways include oil palm, cassava (stems and seeds), sugar cane (setts and seeds), pineapple (suckers/crowns and seeds), and citrus (seeds and budding/grafting).