Plant Propagation

Plant Propagation• Remember, germination of a seed is part

of sexual reproduction. It can take awhile for a seed to develop into a mature plant.

• Through asexual reproduction, many plants can produce genetically identical offshoots (clones) of themselves, which then develop into independent plants also known as vegetative propagation

Types of Plant Propagation

Tubers (underground part of plant)

• Seen in potatoes• Has tiny scale leaves

equipped with buds that grow on its surface.

• Buds form a new plant that is genetically identical to parent plant

Types of Plant PropagationRunners • Seen in strawberries • Horizontal (side-ways)

stems running out from parent plant

• Nodes on these runner can develop into new plants that are genetically identical to parent plant

Types of Plant Propagation

Division• Breaking up plants

into two or more parts

• Keeps perennials healthy, prevents overgrown plants and makes new plants (free $) from original parent plant

Types of Plant PropagationGrafting• Parts of two young plants are joined together• A twig or bud is cut from one plant and joined to a

rooted plant of a related species. The twig or bud is called the scion, and the plant onto which is it grafted (and that provides the roots) is called the stock.

• The scion eventually develops into an entire shoot system.

• Merge favourable parts of two different plants into one plant

• Some advantages: make dwarf plants (eg. Apple trees), hybrid breeding, make plants more hardy (more cold-resistant), repair tree trunks, etc

Types of Plant Propagation

Bulbs• Onions, tulips, etc• Underground; short

stems with fleshy leaves or leaf base (dried in onions)

• Each bulb contains several other buds which can give rise to new plants

Types of Plant Propagation

Leaf Cuttings• African violets,

begonias, etc• Take a nice mature

leaf, trim it and and root it in fast-draining soil medium to encourage growth of new plantlets to be re-potted later

Advantages of Plant Propagation• Faster & cheaper to grow new plants than

traditional pollination• Get new varieties (eg. Grafting = possible new

hybrids?)• Avoids transmission of disease (if parent plant is

disease-free)• Get superior plants, esp. if parent plant is

superior!• Some plants do not produce viable seeds

(needed for sexual reproduction), so asexual is the way to go!