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

LAYERINGLAYERING

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

OTHER TYPES OF GRAFTINGOTHER TYPES OF GRAFTING Whip and tongue Bark graft

Slipping bark: When the cambium is actively growing and can be pulled back easily

Approach Four-flap grafting