Vegetative propagation concept: When a gardener takes a cutting from a plant and roots it, the new plant is best described as a…

Introduction / Context:
Vegetative propagation is an asexual method used extensively in horticulture and forestry to maintain elite genotypes. Cuttings, grafts, and micropropagation produce plants that retain the genetic identity of the donor.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• A stem or leaf cutting is taken from a plant and induced to root.
• No sexual reproduction (meiosis or fertilization) occurs.
• Somaclonal variation is rare compared with standard cutting propagation.

Concept / Approach:
Because meiosis and fertilization are absent, the nuclear genome of the cutting remains the same as the mother plant. The resulting plant is therefore a clone, preserving the cultivar’s traits such as fruit quality, flower color, or disease resistance.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Commercial crops like grapevine, banana, and many ornamentals are propagated clonally to maintain uniformity—evidence that cuttings produce clones.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing morphological changes due to environment with genetic change.

Final Answer:
Clone (genetically identical to the donor plant).