Which of these modes of reproduction is incapable of producing clones?

A) budding in hydra

B) fragmentation in algae

C) runners in strawberry plants

D) cross-pollination in corn plants

The mode of reproduction incapable of producing clones is D) cross-pollination in corn plants. All other choices (budding in hydra, fragmentation in algae, runners in strawberry plants) are examples of asexual reproduction. In asexual reproduction, identical clones are produced. On the contrary, cross-pollination is an example of sexual reproduction which results in genetically different offspring.

From the given choices which includes many different types of asexual reproduction, we are to determine which among them is the one which is incapable of producing clone. The answer to this item is letter D because the cross-pollination may create offsprings with different combinations of the plants.