Lesson 34

Different Methods of plant propagation

Sexual Propagation of Plants

Propagation by Seeds

Is the most common and easy method, the use of seed is not advisable because of varying characteristic of plant seedlings

Propagation of Seeds Practical Instances:

Seeds are used by plants breeders who need a large seedling population with different characteristics from which they select good varieties

Seeds are use by nursery men who need a large seedlings population as rootstocks for certain outstanding varieties.

Asexual PropagationIs done without the

help of the sex organs of the plants.

Asexual MethodDifferent Ways:

By suckers

• stems or roots that grow from a subterranean portion of a plant or tree.

By rhizomes or creeping stems

Produce roots along their surface and develop new plants from buds on the other side.

Example: Ginger

By Underground Runners

(ratoons) as in the case of sugarcane and pineapple.

By Terminating Tissues Of The Leaves

come in contact with the damp surface of the soil.

Example:Begonia

By Rootstocks

The plants reproduce by division and separating some of its roots.

Example:Orchids and other herbaceous

plants.

By Tubers

thickened stem; bearing buds or nodelike scars.

Example: sweet potato and young

By Bulbs

Modified leaves folded around one another.

Examples: garlic and onions.

Methods Of Artificial Plant Propagation

New plants are produced and multiplied by cutting.

Asexual Plant Propagation

An artificial method which new

plants are produced and multiply by using parts and buds of selected mother plants.

Artificial plant propagation is done by:

A. Cutting

New plants are produced and multiplied by cutting and planting parts of the plants.

Different cutting used in propagating plants:

Tuber Cutting Thickened portion of the leaf and stems are used in propagation.

Stem cutting

This is used in propagating annuals and

perennials.

Leaf cutting

To start a new plant, the blade leaf and petioles are used. Plants that develop germinal tissues from the leaves are propagated by this method.

Root and rootstock Cutting

Plants that tend to grow sucker sprout from the roots can be propagated this way.

B. Layering

A part or branch of the tree is introduced into the soil to develop roots while being fed by the parent plant.

C. Marcotting

The stems are induced to take roots while still attached to the mother plant.

Steps in Marcotting:

1. Remove a ring of the bark below the node 3-5 cm long.

2.Scape the cambium layer but not too deep into the wood to prevent healing before root formation takes place.

3.After callus formation has taken place, wrap the cut surface with a moist, but not wet sphagnum moss. If sphagnum moss not available, used moistened soil and wrap with coconut husk.

4. Cover securely with plastic and tie around on both ends with the cotton wine to prevent drying of the rooting medium.

5. When enough roots grow, cut off the marcot just below the ball of sphagnum moss or soil that holds the root.

6. After cutting the marcot, place in a pot big enough to provide sufficient room for the roots to develop further before the transplanting to the field.

7. Place in a cool and shady plants to hasten recovery.

D. Grafting

An artificial plant propagation through which stem of 1 plant, called ”the scion” (top portion), is inserted into the rootstock of another plant.

Cleft Grafting

is used when grafting a new top of a tree which is several years old.

Steps in Cleft Grafting

1. Select a clean, smooth limb between 2-3 cm in diameter and saw it off.

2. With a sharp narrow blade, split the stub through the middle, taking care to make a clean slit.

3. Cut two scion with tree buds each and about 10-15 cm the lower end of each scion. Sharpen to form long, evenly tapering wedge.

4. Open the cleft in the stub by forcing a chisel or any similar instruments into this center.

5. Insert a wedged-shaped end of a scion so that its innermost bark lies against the innermost bark of the split stub.

6. Cover all cut surfaces immediately with soil. Let both scions grow from 1-2 years.

E. Budding

It uses a single band as the scion instead of the stem bearing several buds. It is generally used on smaller branches of large plant where the buds can be inserted into shoots 1-3 dm.

Steps in Budding

Rootstock cutting

1. Pick well-developed buds from a terminal growth of a desired variety.

2. Clip off the leaves immediately to stop evaporation.

3. Select a smooth area and cut a T-shaped slit through the bark.

4. Insert a bud and cut a bud from a bud stalk with the shield-shape piece of bark and a very thin layer of wood under the slit. Slip the bud on the stock and shove it into position.

5.Tie the bud securely above and below with a soft cord and a plastic sheet of raffia.

6. If union has taken place after two weeks, cut the raffia on the side away from the bud to prevent girdling. A living bud is greenish in color, while a dead one is blackish.

7. Cut the stock smoothly when it reaches the height of 30 cm. Cover the surface with pine tar or house paint to prevent decay.

F. Inarching

In this method, the scion is made to unite with the rootstock while growing on their own root system.

Steps In Inarching

1. Select an actively growing rootstock and bring it the branch you intend to graft.

2. Cut a longitudinal slit half its thickness on the branch and make a similar cut on a scion. Then fit them together.

3. Tie firmly with a string or cotton wine.

4.Cut the scion below the point of union, and the rootstock above the union when the two had been united. Make the 1st cut about half the thickness of the scion stem.

5. Make a second count after a week.

6. If the scion does not show any sign of wilting after the second cut, cut it off completely.