Transcript Asexual Plant Propagation

Asexual Plant Propagation
This presentation is from Virginia Tech and it has not been
edited by the Georgia Curriculum Office.
August 2008
Plant Propagation
• The reproduction of new plants from seeds
or vegetative parts of a plant.
August 2008
Asexual Propagation
• The reproduction of new plants from the
stems, leaves, or roots of a parent plant.
• No seeds are used, just portions of the
parent plant which are placed in soil
August 2008
Benefits of Asexual Propagation
•
•
•
•
Produce plants faster
Disease free stock
Works when seeds are hard to germinate
Plants produced are genetically identical
to the parent plant “Clones”
• Plants with or without reproductive parts
can be produced
• Less Expensive in some cases
August 2008
Where Can Cuttings be Taken
From?
• Roots
• Stems
• Leaves
August 2008
Methods of Asexual
Propagation
•
•
•
•
Stem Cuttings
Leaf Cuttings
Leaf Bud Cuttings
Root Cuttings
August 2008
Stem Cuttings
•
•
•
•
•
Softwood Cuttings
Herbaceous Cuttings
Semi-hardwood Cuttings
Hardwood Cuttings
Conifer Cuttings
– See Figure 1 on handout
August 2008
Softwood Cuttings
• Taken from soft, new spring growth of
woody plants
• Root easy but require more attention
• Usually 3 to 5 inches in length
• 2 or 3 nodes
• Cut at 45 degree angles ¼ inch below a
node
• 1/3 of lower leaves are removed
August 2008
Herbaceous Cuttings
•
•
•
•
•
Also considered softwood cuttings
Numerous succulent greenhouse plants
3 to 4 inches long
Contain several leaves
Root easily
August 2008
Semi-hardwood Cuttings
•
•
•
•
Woody, broad leaved plants
Taken in the summer from new shoots
3 to 6 inches in length
Handled the same as softwood cuttings
August 2008
Hardwood Cuttings
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prepared during the dormant season
Deciduous or evergreen plants
6 to 8 inches in length
Taken from year old wood
Form callus tissue during the winter
Develop roots in the spring
August 2008
Conifer Cuttings
• Early winter
• Narrowleaf evergreens
• May take several months to produce roots
August 2008
Leaf Cuttings
• Consist of a leaf blade or leaf blade with
petiole
• Used when plant material is scarce
• Used when a large number of new plants
are needed
• Houseplants or foliage plants
August 2008
Leaf Cuttings Cont.
• Leaf blades can be cut into pieces and
inserted into medium
– See Figure 2 in handout
• Some leaves can be cut on the primary
veins and laid flat on top of the growing
medium.
– See Figure 3 in handout
• Leaf and petiole cuttings are place petiole
down the the medium
– See Figure 4 in handout
August 2008
Leaf Bud Cuttings
• Consist of a leaf, petiole, and a short piece
of stem with lateral bud.
• Must have well developed buds, and
healthy, actively growing leaves.
• Insert in medium with the lateral bud just
below the surface
– See Figure 5 in handout
August 2008
Root Cuttings
• Made from root pieces of young plants
• During late winter or early spring
• Roots are dug, cleaned, and treated with
fungicide
• 2 to 6 inches in length
• Placed horizontally or vertically
• Quite laborious
August 2008
Rooting Hormones
• Material that promote the development of
roots
• Applied to the bases of the cuttings
• Powders or Solutions
• Do not use too much, it may cause the
stem to rot
August 2008
Root-Inducing Environment
• High humidity to reduce water loss
• Indirect sunlight
• Growing medium
August 2008
Types of Growing Medium
• Peat moss & perlite mixture
– 1 to 1 ratio will hold moisture and provide
aeration
• Vermiculite
– Sterile and has high moisture retention
• Sand
– Provides aeration but does not retain moisture
• Sand & peat moss mixture
– 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 ratio, increases moisture
retention
August 2008
Summary
• Asexual propagation is the propagation of
plants from stems, leaves, or roots of a
parent plant
• Cuttings are the most popular form
• Cuttings are often treated with a rooting
hormone
• The environment is very important for
successful rooting
August 2008