Plant Propagation

By Mark J. ArenaClemson Extension Service

Horticulture Industry

• Vocabulary

• Language

• Professionalism

Plant Propagation

• The process of multiplying the # of plants by both asexual and sexual means.

Asexual Propagation

• Manipulation of plant parts (tissue) from a plant which generates into a new plant.

Liner

• A plant which is 1 yr old

• produced by seed or asexually

Prop. of SpecializedStems and Roots

• Separation

• Bulbs - bulblets > offsets > separate, repot = new plant

Prop. of SpecializedStems and Roots

• Division - used to prop. tuberous roots. Need a shoot bud or eye = a new plant.

• Ex: potato, dahlia, tuberous begonias

4 Conditions for B/G

• Scion and Stock - Compatible

• Cambiums properly aligned

• Physiological stage

• Maintenance of union

Sexual Propagation

• Increase of plants through seeds formed from the union of gametes.

• Pollen(M) + Egg(F) = Seed

Propagation Structures

• Greenhouses - control environmental conditions

• Cold Frames - provide no heat

• Hotbeds - obsolete

Sexual Prop.• Seed propagation - sown• Stock plants• Chilling requirements• Heterozygous• Cross-pollinated

Stock Plant

• A plant maintained under optimal conditions

• used to collect material – seeds – cuttings

Types of Cuttings

• Soft wood

• Semi-hardwood

• Hardwood

2 Stages that require environ.

control

• Rooting

• Acclimation

Factors Effecting Rooting

• Hormones

• Wounding

• Juvenility

• Handling

Factors cont.

• Type of Media

• Fertilization

• Envir. Conditions

• Physiological cond.

LAYERING

•Mounding & Stooling

•Air-layering

• induce rooting on the stem of a plant

Micropropagation• T.C.

• Produces a mass of specific clones

• Requires special conditions

• More scientific than others

Adventitious Roots or Shoots

• When new growing points are initiated on a vegetative structure (roots, stems, or leaves)