gumók

Gumók are enlarged storage organs found in a variety of plant species. They function mainly as energy reserves and can serve as a means of vegetative reproduction. Most gumók form underground and consist of swollen tissues that store starch, sugars, and water. In common usage, gumók refer especially to potato tubers, but the term also covers other plant storage organs that develop from stems or roots.

Gumók arising from underground stems are called stem tubers. The potato is the most familiar example: each potato has eyes, buds that can sprout to form shoots and new plants. These tubers develop on stolons and can give rise to a new plant even after the aerial parts die back. In contrast, some species form tuberous roots, which are storage roots rather than modified stems, such as in the case of sweet potato, where the edible storage organ is a root.

Propagation and cultivation: Gumók are often used to propagate plants vegetatively. Planting whole tubers or tuber pieces containing buds can generate new plants. Their storage life depends on temperature, humidity, and disease pressure. Disease and pests can spread through infected tubers.

Uses and significance: In agriculture, gumók are crucial as crops and as a means of maintaining genetic clones. They are also studied in botany to understand plant storage strategies and developmental biology.

Examples: Potatoes are the primary agricultural gumó; other tuberous crops include sweet potatoes and yams, as well as taro and cassava, which have tuberous storage organs of different types.