Asexual reproduction Another method that is especially useful for humans. The plants produced are genetically identical to the parents. All resultant plants are part of a clone. Grafting is an asexual technique that is widely used. Mutation is the original source of genetic variation.
Sexual recombination is the mechanism for maintaining it.
Pieces in new genetic backgrounds. Sometimes small pieces get lost in shuffle. Polyploidy Sometimes plants end up with more than the diploid number of chromosomes. Often occurs when some of the reproductive cells don't divide properly. Diploid, tetraploid, hexaploid, triploid etc.