Gemmazione

Gemmazione, or budding, is a form of asexual reproduction in which new individuals arise as outgrowths or buds on the parent organism. A bud forms by localized cell growth at a specific site, enlarges, and often develops the tissues and organs of a separate individual. The offspring is typically genetically identical to the parent, aside from occasional mutations, and may detach to live independently or remain attached as part of a colonial form.

The phenomenon is observed in several biological groups. In fungi and yeasts, budding is common: a nucleus divides by mitosis and one nucleus migrates into a small daughter cell—the bud—that grows and eventually separates. In cnidarians such as hydra, buds form as protrusions along the body wall and develop into new individuals that may detach and behave as independent organisms. Budding also occurs in some algae and other invertebrates, illustrating the broad utility of this reproductive strategy.

In horticulture and botany, the term is used for a plant propagation technique known as budding, where a bud from one plant is grafted onto another plant to produce a new specimen. This method is widely practiced to propagate cultivars and combine desirable traits from different plants.

Advantages of gemmazione include rapid population growth and the ability to colonize favorable environments without sexual recombination. Limitations include reduced genetic diversity, which can increase vulnerability to environmental changes and disease. The process plays a significant role in both natural ecosystems and applied contexts such as fermentation industries and plant cultivation.