Download Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants

Vegetative Propagation
of
Horticulture Plants
by
Cuttings
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Introduction
Vegetative propagation also
called as asexual propagation
is another method of plant
propagation used widely in
horticultural crops.
Vegetative propagation uses several
of the plant parts for reproducing the
plant asexually.
Cuttings
Runners
Storage organs
Layering
Grafting
Micropropagation
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Introduction
Vegetative propagation is used to
get the similar genetic background
of mother plants.
Good skill, knowledge and
experience aids in vegetative
propagation of plants in large
scale.
Vegetative propagation is
widely used in horticultural
crops’ nurseries.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Introduction
The advantages of
vegetative propagation are:
Mass production of plants using
plant parts of mother parent.
No seed is required to multiply
varieties having desired
quantitative and qualitative traits
Useful technique in production
of plants which are difficult to
propagate using seed.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
One of the easiest way of plant
propagation is by using cuttings from
various parts of the plants such as:
Stem cuttings
Root cuttings
Leaf cuttings
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Stem cuttings
Cuttings should generally consist
of the current or past season’s
growth.
Avoid material with flower buds
if possible.
Remove any flowers and flower buds
when preparing cuttings so the cutting’s
energy can be used in producing new
roots rather than flowers.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Stem cuttings
Take cuttings from healthy,
disease-free plants, preferably
from the upper part of the plant.
Avoid taking cuttings from plants
that show symptoms of mineral
nutrient deficiency.
Conversely, plants that have been
fertilized heavily, particularly with
nitrogen, may not root well.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Stem cuttings
The fertility status of the stock
(parent) plant can influence
rooting.
The stock plant should not be
under moisture stress.
In general, cuttings taken from young
plants root in higher percentages
than cuttings taken from older, more
mature plants.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Stem cuttings
Early morning is the best time to
take cuttings, because the plant
is fully turgid.
While terminal parts of the stem
are best, a long shoot can be
divided into several cuttings.
Cuttings are generally 4 to 6 inches
long.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Stem cuttings
Use a sharp, thin-bladed pocket
knife or sharp pruning shears.
If necessary, dip the cutting tool in
rubbing alcohol or a mixture of 1 part
bleach to 9 parts water to prevent
transmitting diseases from infected
plant parts to healthy ones.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Stem cuttings
Remove the leaves from the lower
one-third to one-half of the cutting
(Fig.)
On large-leafed plants, the remaining
leaves may be cut in half to reduce
water loss and conserve space.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Types of Stem cuttings
Softwood cuttings are prepared
from soft, succulent, new growth of
woody plants, just as it begins to
harden (mature).
Shoots are suitable for making softwood
cuttings when they can be snapped easily
when bent and when they still have a
gradation of leaf size (oldest leaves are
mature while newest leaves are still small).
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Types of Stem cuttings
Semi-hardwood cuttings are usually
prepared from partially mature wood of
the current season’s growth, just after a
flush of growth.
The wood is reasonably firm and the
leaves of mature size.
Many broadleaf evergreen shrubs and
some conifers are propagated by this
method.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Types of Stem cuttings
Hardwood cuttings are taken from
dormant, mature stems.
The wood is firm and does not bend
easily.
Hardwood cuttings are used most often
for deciduous shrubs but can be used
for many evergreens.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Types of Stem cuttings
The three types of hardwood cuttings
are straight, mallet, and heel (Fig.).
A straight cutting (1) is the most
commonly used stem cutting.
1
2
3
Mallet (2) and heel cuttings (3) are used
for plants that might otherwise be more
difficult to root.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Taking root cuttings is one of the
most reliable and economical ways
to produce many perennial and
woody plants.
Take a close look at the roots that
you want to take cuttings from and
make sure they're healthy, living
roots, not dead ones that look black
or dried out.
Root cuttings
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Root cuttings
Look for large fleshy roots, the
thicker the better. Choose roots
that are pencil thick.
Take 2 to 6 inch (2 to 15 cm) cuttings
and then cut into 2 to 3 inch (6 to 7.5
cm) sections.
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
The best way to keep track of "up"
and "down" is to make a flat cut on
top or "up" side, and a slanted cut
on "down" or bottom side.
Water the plants to settle the roots
back into the soil properly.
Root cuttings
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Leaf cuttings
Whole leaf cuttings are prepared
from leaves with or without their
stalks (called petioles). Roots and
leaves will eventually form at the
base of the leaf (Fig.).
Leaf section cuttings can be used
for propagating plants.
The leaves are cut into pieces, with
the edge of the cuttings closest to the
base of the parent plant inserted into
the rooting medium .
Vegetative Propagation of Horticulture Plants
Propagation using Cuttings
Leaf cuttings
Leaf bud cuttings consist of a single
leaf attached to a piece of 1 to 1 1/2
inch stem.
The dormant bud, located where
the leaf stalk joins the stem will
give rise to a new shoot and
branches (Fig.).
The cutting should be inserted in the rooting
medium with the bud about 1/2 inch below the
surface.