3. Introduction
The process or multiplying or increasing the number
or plants of the same species and at the same time
perpetuating their desirable characteristics.
Each plant responds differently to different
methods of propagation.
Various techniques of propagation have been
developed with the objective to have uniformity in
crops, early bearing, increased production,
resistance against pests and diseases, and introduce
certain characters in new generation.
4. Types of plant propagation
Plant
propagation
Asexual
Propagation
Cutting Grafting Budding Layering Division Tissue
Culture
Sexual
Propagation
Seed
Propagation
5. Sexual Propagation of plant
Sexual propagation is propagation or multiplication
of plants by seeds.
Seeds are formed as a result of successful
fertilization and combination of parental gametes.
It is widely used for the propagation of crops like
ornamental annuals, vegetables, medicinal and fruit
plants.
6. Seed Propagation
The propagation or reproducing of plants from
seeds.
Pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma.
Fertilization occurs and seeds are produced
Viruses don’t transmit through seeds, thus mostly the
seedlings are free from virus diseases.
7. Planting of seeds
Planting depth depends on the size of the seeds.
The larger the seed, the deeper it is planted.
Small seeds should be watered by
bottom soaking.
8. Germination
Germination rate is the % that sprout.
Example: 75 out of 100 = 75%
Rates affected by….
o Seed viability.
o Temperature.
o Moisture.
oType of plant.
o Quality of seed.
9. Germination percentage
Germination percentage is an estimate of the
viability of a population of seeds.
The equation to calculate germination percentage
is:
GP = seeds germinated/total seeds x 100
10. Pre – germination Seed Treatment
Chemical (Acid scarification):
o The purpose is to modify hard or important or
impermeable seed covering generally soaking seed
in concentrated sulphuric acid is an effective
method.
o The time of treatment may vary from 10 minutes to
6 hour according to species.
o After treatment seeds are thoroughly washed in
clean water to make them free of acid and then re
sown immediately.
11. Cont…
Mechanical(Scarification):
o Involves breaking or weakening the seed coat and
can be carried out using sand paper or a file to
abrade the seed coat or using a knife to nick the
coat or using a hammer to crack the coat for
allowing water to enter.
o Make attention to not crush the seed as to damage
the embryo.
12. Cont…
Seedling (Boiled Water Treatment):
o Pouring boiling water over seeds and getting it to
cool gradually for about 12 to 24 Hour to soften
dry and hard shelled seeds.
o E.g. Coffee, This will hasten the process of
germination.
13. Cont…
Soaking in Water:
o The purpose of soaking seeds in water is to modify
hard seed coats, to remove inhibitors, to soften seed
and to reduce the time of germination.
o The time of soaking seeds in cold water depend
upon the hardness of the seed coat.
o Eg: peas, beans, acassia tree etc.
14. Cont…
Stratification (Moist Chilling):
o Seed of many woody trees or shrubs are exposed to
low temperature to bring about prompt and uniform
germination.
o It has some benefit in softening the seed coats.
o The seeds are arranged in alternate layers of sand
in shallow boxes for pits or trenches.
o This condition helps in rapid germination peach
cherry, plum, oat, grapes.
15. Asexual Propagation in plants
The vegetative parts of a plant like leaf, stem, root or
their modified forms are used for propagation.
Most of the horticultural crops are commercially
propagated by this method.
Have short juvenile phase, thus come into bearing
earlier than seedling plants.
Plants are derived from single parent thus there is no
genetic changes.
Plant propagated through asexual propagation has
same features as the parent plant.
17. Cutting
Detaching portion of the selected motherplant for
the purpose of producing new plants
The three main types of cuttings are….
Stem
Leaf
Root
18. Stem Cutting
Based on the age and maturity of shoots detached
for vegetative propagation.
stem cuttings is of four types:
(i) Hardwood cutting
(ii) Semi-hardwood cutting
(iii) Softwood cutting
(iv) Herbaceous cutting
19. i. Hardwood cutting
Such a cutting is
taken from woody
plants.
Mostly, deciduous
plants are
propagated by
this method. e.g.,
rose, grapes etc.
20. ii. Semi-hardwood cutting
A semi - hardwood
cutting is taken from 4
to 9-month old shoots
of current season
woody plants.
Most ornamental
foliage plants like
croton, acalyphas,
aralias, diffenbachia,
russelia, cestrum,
nerium, etc.,
21. iii. Softwood cutting
Such a cutting is taken from herbaceous or succulent
plants.
Shoots of 2 to 3-month old plants are selected for
softwood cuttings.
Example: salternanthera, coleus, duranta,
clerodendrum, etc.
22.
23. iv. Herbaceous cutting
Such a cutting is taken
from herbaceous plants.
Shoots of 1 to 2-month
old plants are selected
for herbaceous cuttings.
Examples:
chrysanthemum, iresine,
pilea, dahlia, petunia,
carnation, marigold, etc.
24. Leaf cutting
Plants with thick fleshy leaves having buds are
propagated by leaf cutting.
Vegetative buds are present in the notches of leaf
margin (bryophyllum) or on the vein (begonia rex).
Leaf blade or pieces of it with bud are put on the
rooting medium under favourable conditions.
In case of black raspberry, the leaf blade, along
with petiole and a short piece of the stem with
attached axillary buds, are kept in the medium for
rooting.
26. Layering
In this method, roots are allowed to develop on the covered
portion of the stem while still being attached to the mother
plant.
After the emergence and development of the roots, this portion
is separated from the mother plant and allowed to grow as a
new plant on its own root stem. Such root stem is known as
‘layer’.
Types of layering : (i) Simple layering
(ii) Compound or serpentine layering
(iii) Trench layering
(iv) Mound layering or stooling
(v) Air layering
27. i. Simple layering
A partial tongue-like cut is given on a branch.
The branch is then bent to the ground and the
treated portion is covered with soil, keeping the top
or terminal portion exposed.
The layered branches produce roots in weeks and
are ready for transplanting in a nursery after
detaching them carefully.
Examples: jasmine, ixora, clerodendron,
pyrostegia, etc.
29. ii. Compound or serpentine layering
Compound layering is similar to simple layering,
except the branches are alternately covered and
exposed along their length.
The branches must be longer so that they can be
layered at several places.
Eg: bougainvillea, jasmine, clematis,
muscadine grape and wisteria.
31. iii. Trench layering
Trench layering is primarily used in fruit plants.
Covering the shoots with soil results in etiolation, so
it is also known as ‘etiolation layering’.
New shoots arise from the length of the burried
buds and roots form under soil.
After rooting, individual shoots are separated from
the mother plant.
Eg: apple, cherry, pear, jasmine and
rhododendron.
32.
33. iv. Mound layering or stooling
This method is followed in plants
whose branches are firm and
difficult to bend.
The selected plant must be at
dormant stage at the time of
layering.
Parent plant cut back to the soil
level. Entire plant is mounded with
soil. Forms numerous shoots and
roots.
Eg: Apple rootstock, quince,
magnolia etc.
34. v. Air layering
It is also known as ‘gootee’.
Examples: Ficus elastica, Callistemon, croton,
monstera, citrus fruits, lychee, philodendron,
pomegranate, etc.
35. Grafting
The method of joining parts of two plants in a
manner that they form a unit and function as one
plant is known as ‘grafting’.
Rootstock: The part of the graft that provides root
system to the grafted plant.
Scion: The upper portion of graft combination taken
from the desired plant to be multiplied.
36. Methods of grafting :
1. Scion attached method -
The scion shoot is not detached from the mother
plant until the union takes place.
After the successful union of the scion and rootstock,
the scion is separated in gradual cut from the
mother plant.
It is classified into two types:
i. Sliced approach grafting
ii. Tongue grafting
37. i. Approach grafting
Approach grafting is also known as ‘inarching’. Two
independent self-sustaining plants are grafted
together.
38. ii. Tongue grafting
This method differs from the former as cuts are
given on both the scion and rootstock.
39. 2. Scion detached method
The scion is first detached from the mother plant,
and then, inserted or tied on the rootstock.
Types of scion detached method:
I. Veneer grafting
II. Side grafting
III. Wedge or cleft grafting
IV. Stone or epicotyl grafting
V. Whip or splice grafting
VI. Bark grafting
40. i. Veneer grafting
In this, the vertical flap of the stock is completely
removed and a slanting cut is given on one side of
the scion.
The best time in north India for veneer grafting is
March−April and July−August.
Eg: Mango, cashew and peach are commercially
propagated by this technique.
42. ii. Side grafting
In this method, the
operated scion is
inserted into the side
of the established
rootstock, which has
more girth than the
scion,
Eg: hibiscus.
43. iii. Cleft grafting
Selected rootstock
The split stock held open
with the help of a chisel
Prepared plant
Scion inserted in the
rootstock
Wrapped scion and
rootstock
Prepared plant
Eg: mango, jackfruit,
bael, amla, etc.
44. iv. Stone or epicotyl grafting
This method is commonly adopted for the rapid
multiplication of mango plants.
In this method, stones (seeds) are sown in polythene
bags or moist sand bed and covered with 5 to 7-cm
layer of leaf mould for germination.
When the seedlings are about 15 days old, they
are taken out and grafted indoor.
47. vi. Bark grafting
A plant graft made by slitting the bark of the stock
and inserting the scion beneath.
48. Budding
The process of inserting a single mature scion bud into
the stem (rootstock) in a way that results into a union
and continues to grow as a new plant.
Types of budding:
I. T – budding
II. Patch budding
III. Ring budding
IV. Flute budding
V. Forkert budding
VI. Chip budding
49. i. T – budding
Since a ‘T’-shaped incision is made for bud insertion
on the rootstock, it is called T – budding.
T – budding is also called ‘shield budding’ as the
bud used for insertion is in the shape of a ‘shield’.
50. ii. Patch budding
It is used for species that have thick bark.
A rectangular patch of bark containing a single bud
is taken from the scion and placed into a similar
patch taken from the root stock.
51. iii. Ring budding
A complete ring of
bark is removed from
the stock and it is
completely girdled.
A similar ring of bark
containing a bud is
removed from the bud
stick and is inserted
onto the rootstock.
52. iv. Flute budding
The patch of bark is
removed from the stock in
such a way that it almost
completely encircles the stock
except with a narrow bark
connection between the
upper and lower cuts on the
stock.
A similar patch of bark is
removed from the bud stick
containing a healthy bud.
53. v. Forkert budding
The stock is prepared by giving two vertical cuts and
a transverse cut above the vertical cuts to join them.
The scion is prepared in a fashion similar to patch
budding having the size similar to cuts made on the
stock.
54. vi. Chip budding
A chip of bark and wood is removed from the smooth surface
between the nodes of the stock.
Similar size and shape is also removed from the bud wood of
the desired cultivar.
The bud chip inserted in the stock in such a way that the
cambium of bud chip should have direct contact with the
cambium of the stock.