PLANT PROPAGATIONPLANT PROPAGATION The creation of new life!
Propagation means to multiply or make new Propagation methods require:
Knowledge Skill Practice
Propagation is an ART!!
PROPAGATION METHODSPROPAGATION METHODS Sexual propagation: Reproduction
involving a female (egg) and male (pollen) sex cells to produce a seed Some plants can only be reproduced
by seeds Cross-pollination is when one
flower is pollinated by another flower with different characteristics
Self-pollination is when pollen of the same plant is used
PROPAGATION METHODSPROPAGATION METHODS Asexual propagation: Reproduction using cuttings
from leaves, stems, or roots to make new plants Based on the principle of totipotency Allows the production of a CONSISTENT crop
Totipotency is the ability of a single cell to divide and recreate another type of cell
Creates a monoculture Only one plant variety is present
in a particular environment
SEED GERMINATIONSEED GERMINATION As a seed germinates, or begins to grow, it will start to
absorb water After the seed coat cracks, two things happen:
The radicle, the plant’s first root emerges into the soil to serve as an anchor
The plumule, also known as the shoot or seed bud, emerges from the soil
Cotyledons, or seed leaves, emerge Dicotyledons: plants with two cotyledons – Example: Beans Monocotyledons: plants with one codyledon – Example: Corn
GERMINATION CONDITIONSGERMINATION CONDITIONS The seedbed is the soil or medium in which seeds are sown The seed has requirements for:
Temperature Wind tolerance Insects and pests Moisture Exposure to light Air circulation Planting depth Placing between seeds
DORMANCYDORMANCYTwo methods of breaking seed dormancy:Scarification: The process of slightly damaging or breaking the tough seed coat which allows water penetration into the seed
Example: Rubbing seed against sand paper, a file, or a rough surface
Stratification: A cold treatment process given to some seeds to complete ripening and overcome dormancy
Seeds are place in a plastic bag inside a refrigerator around 36-38° F
METHODS OF SEEDINGMETHODS OF SEEDING When propagating by seed, you must think
of the appropriate method: Indirect seeding: Seeds are first
planted in pots or containers Direct seeding: Seeds are
planted directly into the garden When seeds planted indirectly,
they must be transplanted Transplanting: To move a plant
from one location and plant it in another
METHODS OF DIRECT SEEDINGMETHODS OF DIRECT SEEDING Furrow method: narrow grooves
are made into the soil Broadcasting: sprinkling the seeds
across a given area Individual method: placing the
seeds in the soil or media by hand Can be done by hand or
automated equipment Large commercial operations Specialized growing
AFTER SOWING SEEDSAFTER SOWING SEEDS Make sure to place an identification
marker!! Name of seed and date sown
Lightly mist the media until damp In order to retain moisture, plastic wrap
can be applied over the top of the flat Make sure to harden-off plants grown
indoors before moving them outside Hardening-off: process where young
plants receive less care and a greater range in temperatures in order to acclimate them to living outside
TYPES OF AVAILABLE SEEDSTYPES OF AVAILABLE SEEDS Seed selection is VERY important Seeds are labeled with:
Name of the plant Expiration date Germination percentage Plant seed percentage Inert material percentage
The germination rate is the amount of seeds that are expected to germinate
Inert material may be weed seeds or plant material
ROOT PROMOTION IN ASEXUAL PROPAGATIONROOT PROMOTION IN ASEXUAL PROPAGATION Asexual propagation is like cloning plants Having an appropriate rooting medium is
important A sterile mix, free of diseases or pests
Horitcultural sand Moss – Peat and sphagnum Vermiculite Perlite
Often cuttings are grown in a mixture of these
ASEXUAL PROPAGATIONASEXUAL PROPAGATION Temperature is important
Some plants prefer bottom heat which is artificial heat that keeps the soil or media warm
Moisture and light exposure are also significant Cuttings can be taken from different plant growth
Softwood: New plant growth Hardwood: Older growth
on a woody plant
STOCK PLANTSTOCK PLANT To give cuttings the best start,
the stock plant, or main plantthe cuttings are taken from should be: Healthy specimen Free of insects and disease
Take cuttings from the top of the plant which is often younger, cleaner, and healthier
Auxin is sometimes required in asexual propagation for root development
METHODS OF ASEXUAL PROPAGATIONMETHODS OF ASEXUAL PROPAGATION Cutting: a process where part of the stock is cut off in
order to reproduce a new plant Stem cutting: Requires at least 3 nodes per cutting Tip cutting: Cutting from the tip of the stem Leaf cutting: a leaf, a leaf and petiole, or a portion
of a leaf is taken from the stock plant Polarity: Tendency of a cutting to develop
roots from the bottom and sprouts from the top
Leaf-bud cutting: Cutting of a bud and node Root cutting: Cuttings from roots
Division: Process of dividing plant that spread underground Example: Iris, daylily, ferns
Separation: Process of propagating plants that spread by aboveground stems or bulblets Example: Spider plant
Tissue Culture: Cloning plants from genetic material
METHODS OF ASEXUAL METHODS OF ASEXUAL PROPAGATIONPROPAGATION
Grafting: Attaching twigs, buds, or roots onto other stems or roots
The two plants must be closely related for the plants to fuse
Scion: Portion of the plant attached during grafting
Rootstock: The lower portion of the plant that receives the graft or bud
Interstock: A twig that is grafted between the scion and rootstock
GRAFTINGGRAFTING
BUDDING METHODSBUDDING METHODS Budding: A form of grafting where a
bud is attached to stock plant by various means to produce a more desirable plant A budstick twig is used as a source
of buds Patch method Chip bud T-bud