Budding is a form of asexual reproduction in which a new organism grows on another one. The new organism remains attached as it grows, separating from the parent organism only when it is mature. Since the reproduction is asexual, the newly created organism is a clone and is genetically identical to the parent organism. A new organism grows from an outgrowth or bud on the parent.
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In virology, budding is a form of viral shedding by which enveloped viruses acquire their external envelope from the host cell membrane, which bulges outwards and encloses the virion.
In embryology, the term budding is applied to the process of embryo differentiation, in which new structures are formed in outgrowth from pre-existing parts.
In agriculture and horticulture, budding refers to grafting the bud of one plant onto another.