Propagating Plants

• Charlie has just left school and loves being outside.

• To celebrate his success in finishing school, Granny has given him .... a potato plant!!!

• Then Charlie has a bright idea!

• Maybe he could start a business growing plants.

• But, how could Charlie use his one plant to get lots of plants??

Now try, taking Cuttings• Plant stem is cut and grown in water/moist

compost to develop roots.• Hormone powder accelerates root

formation

Success!• Charlie is delighted with how well his

cuttings are growing!

• Although he started with only one plant, he now has 6 healthy, growing plants. Calculate the percentage increase in the number of plants.

Competitors• Charlie’s main competitors have been recording

there vegetable yield over the past few years.

• Calculate their total vegetable yield per year.

Vegetable

Yield per Year (%)

Potato 68Carrot 43Leek 56

• To help his cuttings to continue growing effectively, Charlie has moved his cuttings into a polytunnel.

• Do you agree with Charlie’s decision? Why?

• After a few weeks the cuttings seem to be struggling.

• Charlie decides to increase the carbon dioxide concentration in the tunnel. How might this affect the cuttings?

Advantages of Artificial Propagation

• Quick way to produce a large number of plants

• Plants will be identical to the parent• Rare plants can be saved from

extinction