This document discusses various methods of vegetative or asexual propagation for cultivating medicinal plants. It describes natural propagation methods using plant parts like bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes. It also details several artificial propagation techniques including cuttings, layering, division, grafting, budding, and micropropagation. Micropropagation uses plant tissue culture to rapidly multiply stock plant material. Fermentation is also discussed as a method to commercially produce some medicinal fungi using biotechnology that yields products similar to wild varieties. Advantages of asexual propagation include maintenance of plants and high yields, while disadvantages include lack of genetic diversity and reduced adaptation to environmental changes.

1. Cultivation Of Medicinal Plants by
Vegetative / Asexual propagation
PREPARED BY,
Ms. M.S. Divya Sree, M.Pharm,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Pharmacognosy,
Sree Vidyanikethan College of Pharmacy,
Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.

2. Introduction
It is the process of multiplication in which a
portion of fragment of the plant body functions
as propagate and develops into a new individual.
Also known as Asexual propagation
There are different types of vegetative
propagations.

3. Types
Natural
Artificial
Cell culture followed by Differentiation
Aseptic (or) Micro propagation (or) clonal
propagation
By fermentation

4. Natural Methods
Vegetative organs such as roots, stems, leaves,
rhizomes, tubers, bulbs etc.,
Examples
 Bulbs – Garlic, Squill
 Tubers – Jalap, Potato
 Rhizomes – Ginger, Turmeric
 Suckers – Liquorice
 Runners – Mint, chemomile

5. Artificial methods
 Specific method or process is used on any vegetative part of the
plant for propagation.
Types
1) Cutting
2) Layering
3) Division
4) Grafting
5) Budding

6. 1) Cutting
A cutting is separated portion of root, stem or
leaf.
It is very common method employed for
artificial vegetative propagation.
Ex : Sugar cane, Roses, Citrus, Duranta,
Grapes, Cocoa, Bougainvillea.

7. Types of cutting
I. Stem cutting
II. Root cutting
III. Tubers
IV. Offsets

8. I. Stem cutting
• Single node stem cutting – if internode is greater than
1.5 cm.
• Double node stem cutting – if internode is 1.5 cm.
• Multiple node stem cutting – if internode is very small.
• Soft wood cutting.
• Hard wood cutting.

9. Soft wood cutting
Ex: Berry berry

10. Ex: Rose, Apple, Almond, orange

11. II. Root cutting
Ex: Brahmi

12. III. Tubers
Ex: Yam, potato

13. IV. Offsets
Ex: Banana, Aspragus

14. 2) Layering
Method - I
Ex: Guava, Mango, Lemon, Jasmine

15. Method - II

16. Ex: Cascara,Litchi, Citrus, Pomegranate, Guava, Croton

17. 3) Division
Ex: Rhubarb, Gentian, Dalhia, Male fern

18. 4) Grafting
Types
a) Approach grafting
b) True grafting / Stem grafting
Terms
 Stock – Rooted plant
 Graft / scion – a detached living portion of a plant

19. a) Approach grafting

21. b) True grafting / Stem grafting
In this method only stems are involved for
grafting.
2 types
i. Whip grafting
ii. Crown grafting

22. i) Whip grafting
Stem with same thickness are selected for grafting
Ex: Apple, Watermelon

23. ii) Crown grafting
• Scions are inserted
into stock
Ex: Myristica fragrance,
Cinchona

24. 5) Budding
Ex: Sweet orange, ornamental plants, Rose

26. Cell culture followed by
differentiation
• It is a collection of techniques used to
maintain or grow plant cells, tissues or organs
under sterile conditions on a nutrient culture
medium of known composition.
• It is widely used to produce clones of a plant
in a method known as Micropropagation.

28. Micropropagation
• It is the practice of rapidly multiplying stock plant
material to produce a large number of progeny
plants, using modern plant tissue culture
methods.
• Can get high yield in short period of time.
• Micro quantities of Explant is enough to produce
many plants.

29. Micropropagation procedure
Selection of an explant from a ‘mother plant’ that
is healthy and vigorous.
Usually, apical buds are preferred as explants but
any other tissue can be used.
Establishment of this explant in a plant culture
medium.

30. (A medium supports growth and cell division.
Depending on the plant requirement, different
types of media are used for specific types of
plants.)
Multiplication - In this stage, the explants give
rise to a callus.
Differentiation.
Organogenesis.

37. Fermentation
Bio-fermentation technology makes it possible to
grow a number of fungi in large tanks.
In a matter of days, a large quantity can be
produced.
The technology has now become highly advanced
and is making previously rare herbs much more
accessible.

38. Many studies indicate that the chemical
nature of this biotechnology is almost
identical to that of the wild variety.
The most commercial products are produced
by this technology.

39. Advantages
• It is not as complex and requires far less energy than
sexual reproduction.
• It is a means of maintaining continuity.
• There is no need for much time or energy to produce
offspring.
• Cloned offspring are more likely to succeed in the same
stable areas as their parents.

40. Disadvantages
• Asexual reproduction does not have genetic diversity.
• The organism becomes less adapted to certain
environmental changes. The entire communities of the
genetically identical organisms might not survive such
changes.
• Asexual reproduction usually leads to struggle for
existence as well as overcrowding.

41. Thank you