Introduction to

Plant Propagation
Karen Tanino, Bob Bors
Dept. Plant Sciences (AgBio)
1

Breeding and Propagation

Sexual versus Asexual reproduction
Breeding involves sexual reproduction (i.e.
creating genetic diversity through cross/self
fertilization and making selections).
Once a new, superior plant is selected:
Propagation involves increasing numbers of
seeds (sexual reproduction); cuttings, budding
grafting (clonesvegetative propagation)
Cuttings: stem or root, tissue culture

Plants can be a very good investment:

potential increase / year
algae

1,000,000,000,000 x

tissue culture

1,000,000 X

spores

50,000 - 100,000 X

seeds

500 to 50,000 X

cuttings

50 to 250 X

plant division, bulbs,

root cuttings

4 to 25 X

viable business

1.1 X

savings account

1.05 X

Methods of propagation
influenced by:
natural habitat
how the plant evolved to cope
with these
human ingenuity

These propagation methods

are common in nature:
seeds
bulbs, tubers, corms
rhyzomes, tillers,
runners
layering
root buds
5

Rhizomes

Runners

Tropicals often have no dormancy

in their seeds

Methods created for

propagation by nurseries:
division
cuttings
leaf
stems
roots

grafting
tissue culture
9

Grafting is for
difficult to
root plants
or
desirable
rootstocks
(T- Bud grafting)

10

Air Layering

11

Tissue Culture

12

Types of cuttings

Stems
Leaf
Roots
Herbaceous
Softwood
Semi-hardwood
Hardwood
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Plant Growth and Development

There are different
meristematic regions:
Stem and root apical
meristems
Lateral meristems
(lateral buds)
Cambium (secondary
meristem)
Intercalary meristems
of grasses

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Leaf Cuttings

16

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VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION (Clones)

Plant Growth and Development

- root initiation from vascular
cambium

IBA = Indole-3- butyric acid

0.1 % : herbaceous, east to root
0.4% : softwoods, intermediate
0.8% : hardwoods, difficult to root

20

Hormones---Auxin
(Growth promoter)
IAA (Indole acetic acid)
Breaks down under UV light.
Therefore, synthetic auxins: IBA
(Indole butyric acid), 2,4-D. Hormone
causing apical dominance.
Stimulates cell elongation (cell wall
loosening), adventitious root
formation, differentiation, some cell
division.
Horticulture Applications:
Fruit thinning (can both promote
and delay drop)
Propagation (rooting)
Herbicides (dicots)

Environmental factors

Temperature
Light
Nutrients
Water
Air
Biotic
22

Factors for propagation by

cuttings
Environmental
water (humidity)
light
nutrients
temperature
air
soil
biotic
23

Environmental factors
Water
high humidity for cuttings
Cuttings take in much of their
water through their leaves
Holding tanks
Warms water
Allows dechlorination

24

Mist chambers:
provide water through leaves
reduce evapo-transpiration

25

Environmental factors
Light
daylength to induce flower formation
Etiolation (shading) can increase
rooting
Shading may benefit cuttings

26

Shade
Tent

27

Environmental factors
Nutrients
low N for faster rooting
Slightly stressed but having good
levels of nutrients is optimum
High CHO for budwood or hardwood
cuttings

28

Environmental factors
Temperature
bottom heat for faster rooting
cold temp to induce dormancy

29

Heating coils increase soil temp

30

Environmental factors
Air
CO2 enrichment helps
Rarely used by industry

avoid fumes from combustion

engines
avoid ethylene

31

Environmental factors
soil
Soil-less mix
Light weight
Sterile
Good water holding capacity
Good drainage

32

Sand

Soil-less mix
course grade

Perlite

Vermiculite

Soil-less mix
fine grade

Peat moss

33

Environmental factors
Biotic
Sterile soil-less mix
cleanliness
biological controls

34

Factors for propagation by

cuttings
Plant
juvenility
time of year
wounds

Hormones
Biomass

35

Plant Factors
juvenility
Plant parts closest to soil line are
usually more juvenile
Adult tissue may not root
Young plants may not flower
Can be altered by tissue culture
and possibly other cultural
practicies
36

Plant Factors
time of year
Dormancy
Internal CHO in tissues
Budwood and hardwood cuttings
gathered in fall

Rapid vs slow growth phases

37

Plant Factors
wounding
Enhanced more buds to
break
Advantageous bud formation
callus (undifferentiated cells)
form, can be regenerated in
tissue culture

38

Plant Factors
Hormones
Auxins increase rooting
Cytokinins increase branching
Cuttings often dipped in rooting
hormones
IBA or NAA very common
Different concentrations for different
species
39

Plant Factors
Biomass
More leaves = faster rooting (unless
plant is water stressed)
optimum biomass
Too large or too small net negative
WHY?

40

Plant Factors
Health of plants
Need to be in an optimum growth
state
In TC over 3 to 4 weeks is best time to
transfer

Healthy propagate easier

Poinsettia cuttings
41

Plant Factors
Genetics
Some clones are simply easier to
propagate
Ease of propagation varies widely
between species

42

Plant Factors
Dormancy
Plant may cease to grow when
going dormant
Can be overcome
Cold or drought treatments
GA sprays
Planting in light
43

Propagation equipment
and supplies

44

Seedling plug trays:

saves space while plants are young

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