By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

  • 1Differentiate sexual and asexual reproduction
  • 2Identify the flower as the reproductive part and its main parts
  • 3Define pollination and its agents
  • 4Describe modifications of roots and stems
  • 5Give examples of vegetative propagation
💡
Why this chapter matters
Reproduction in plants explains how plants make new plants and how their parts are modified to survive. Pollination, types of reproduction and root/stem modifications are directly tested book-back content in the TN Class 7 Term 1 exam.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

Reproduction and Modification in Plants — Class 7 Science (Samacheer Kalvi)

TN State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 7 Science, Term 1 — Chapter 5. How plants reproduce and modify their parts.


1. About this chapter

This chapter covers sexual and asexual reproduction, the parts of a flower, pollination and its agents, and the modifications of roots and stems.

2. Types of reproduction

  • Plants reproduce in two ways: sexual and asexual.
  • Asexual reproduction needs only one parent — e.g. vegetative propagation (by roots, stems or leaves) and budding in yeast. Vegetative propagation by leaves takes place in Bryophyllum.

3. The flower and pollination

  • The flower is the reproductive part of a plant. Its two important parts are the androecium (male) and the gynoecium (female).
  • Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma. Its agents are insects, wind, water and animals (pollinators).

4. Modifications of roots and stems

  • Roots may be modified for support: climbing roots are seen in betel and black pepper.
  • Stems may be modified: ginger is an underground stem (not a root); a tendril is an elongated structure that helps a plant climb — in pea, the terminal leaflets are modified into a tendril.

5. Worked examples

Example 1. Which plant shows vegetative propagation by leaves? Bryophyllum.

Example 2. Is ginger a root or a stem? An underground stem.

Example 3. Define pollination. The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma.

6. Book-back questions (Samacheer Kalvi)

I. Choose the correct answer

  1. Vegetative propagation by leaves takes place in — (a) Bryophyllum / (b) mango. Ans: (a) Bryophyllum.
  2. Asexual reproduction in yeast is by — (a) seeds / (b) budding. Ans: (b) budding.
  3. The reproductive part of a plant is the — (a) root / (b) flower. Ans: (b) flower.
  4. Climbing roots are seen in — (a) betel and black pepper / (b) pea. Ans: (a) betel and black pepper.
  5. Pollinators are — (a) insects / (b) wind and water / (c) all the above. Ans: (c) all the above.

II. Answer briefly 6. Name the two types of reproduction in plants. — Sexual and asexual reproduction. 7. What are the two important parts of a flower? — The androecium and the gynoecium. 8. What is a tendril? — An elongated structure that helps a plant climb (in pea, the terminal leaflets become a tendril).

III. True or False 9. The transfer of pollen to the stigma is called pollination. — True. 10. Ginger is an underground root. — False (it is an underground stem).

7. Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Calling ginger a root. Fix: Ginger is an underground stem.
  • Mistake: Saying only insects are pollinators. Fix: Pollinators include insects, wind, water and animals.
  • Mistake: Confusing the flower's parts. Fix: Androecium is male; gynoecium is female.

8. Quick revision

  • Term 1 · Ch 5 · reproduction and modification in plants.
  • Reproduction: sexual and asexual (vegetative propagation; budding in yeast; Bryophyllum by leaves).
  • Flower = reproductive part; androecium (male) and gynoecium (female); pollination = anther → stigma (agents: insects, wind, water, animals).
  • Modifications: climbing roots (betel, black pepper); ginger = underground stem; tendril helps climbing (pea).

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Types of reproduction
sexual and asexual
Budding in yeast; Bryophyllum by leaves.
Flower
reproductive part; androecium (male) + gynoecium (female)
Two main parts.
Pollination
anther → stigma; agents: insects, wind, water, animals
Transfer of pollen.
Modifications
climbing roots (betel, black pepper); ginger = stem; tendril
For support/climbing.
⚠️

Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT
Calling ginger a root
Ginger is an underground stem.
WATCH OUT
Saying only insects are pollinators
Pollinators include insects, wind, water and animals.
WATCH OUT
Confusing the flower's parts
Androecium is male; gynoecium is female.

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· MCQ
Vegetative propagation by leaves takes place in ____.
Show solution
Bryophyllum.
Q2EASY· MCQ
Asexual reproduction in yeast is by ____.
Show solution
budding.
Q3EASY· MCQ
Climbing roots are seen in ____.
Show solution
betel and black pepper.
Q4EASY· True/False
True or False: Ginger is an underground root.
Show solution
False — ginger is an underground stem.
Q5MEDIUM· Answer briefly
Define pollination and name its agents.
Show solution
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma; its agents are insects, wind, water and animals.
Q6EASY· Answer briefly
Name the two important parts of a flower.
Show solution
The androecium (male part) and the gynoecium (female part).

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

  • Term 1 Chapter 5 of Samacheer Kalvi Class 7 Science.
  • Plants reproduce sexually and asexually (vegetative propagation; budding in yeast; Bryophyllum by leaves).
  • The flower is the reproductive part; androecium (male) and gynoecium (female) are its main parts.
  • Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma.
  • Agents of pollination: insects, wind, water and animals.
  • Modifications: climbing roots (betel, black pepper); ginger = underground stem; tendril helps climbing.

Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 6-10 marks across book-back MCQ, true/false and short answers

Question typeMarks eachTypical countWhat it tests
MCQ13-5Reproduction, flower, modifications
True / False11-2Pollination, ginger
Short Answer21-2Pollination, flower parts
Prep strategy
  • Separate sexual and asexual reproduction
  • Learn the flower parts (androecium/gynoecium)
  • Memorise pollination and its agents
  • Note ginger = stem, not root

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Farming

Vegetative propagation is used to grow many crops quickly.

Pollination

Bees and other pollinators are vital for food crops.

Gardening

Cuttings and budding propagate plants at home.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

  1. Quote Bryophyllum and yeast as examples
  2. State pollination as anther → stigma
  3. List the four pollination agents
  4. Remember ginger is a stem

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

  • Explain how a plant grown from a cutting is genetically like its parent.
  • Compare wind pollination with insect pollination.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

TN Class 7 Term 1 ExamHigh
NMMS / Foundation ScienceMedium
School unit testsHigh

Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

Sexual reproduction involves two parents and the fusion of male and female cells (through flowers and pollination), while asexual reproduction needs only one parent, as in vegetative propagation or budding in yeast.

Although ginger grows underground like a root, it has nodes, buds and scale leaves — features of a stem — so it is classed as an underground stem.
Verified by the tuition.in editorial team
Last reviewed on 4 June 2026. Written and reviewed by subject-matter experts — read about our process.
Editorial process →
Header Logo