Propagation short note for quick revision includes quick recap

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Chapter 8: Basics of Plant Propagation
INTRODUCTION
Propagation refers to the controlled perpetuation or increase in the number of plants.
Multiplication and production of plants using propagules representing specific genotypes.
• A propagules is any plant part used to produce a new plant or population
of plants.
• Specific propagule includes seeds, cutting, layers, buds, scion, explants
and various kinds of specialized structures such as bulbs, corms and tubers.
In general, it can be sexual (by seed) or asexual (by vegetative methods)
A. Sexual method of propagation
By seeds; Seedlings: Plants raised through seeds.
Seed: Fertilized ovule containing embryos resulting from the
union of male and female gametes during fertilization
It is an easy and cheap method of propagation. It is used to prepare rootstocks of many
fruit trees. It is also very important in breeding program to develop new variety.
However, plants produced from seeds are heterozygous (carry genetic material from
both parents).
A fruit tree propagated from seed takes longer time to mature than one developed from
asexual means
Seedling trees of mango usually take 5-6 years to bear fruits. While, asexually
propagated mango takes only 2-3 years for the first harvest.

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Advantages of sexual propagation
1)Seedling trees generally live longer, bear more heavily and are hardier than
vegetatively propagated trees.
2)Seedlings are comparatively cheap, and can be more easily raised
3)Plants which are difficult to propagate, e.g., papaya and phalsa by vegetative
method can only be propagated by seed.
4)In breeding for evolution of new varieties, the hybrids are first raised from
the seed and it is, therefore, essential to employ this method in such cases.
5)Chance seedlings with superior characteristics, which may be of great benefit
to the horticulture industry.
6)Rootstocks, on which desirable scion variety is budded or grafted, are usually
raised from seeds
• A chance seedling is a plant that is the product of unintentional breeding. A
chance seedling may be a genetically unique individual with desirable
characteristics that is then intentionally bred.
• Identifying the parent plants of a chance seedling may be difficult. It may be
necessary to genetically analyze the seedling and surrounding plants to be sure.
• Plants that come from the artificial union of gametes from a maternal and
paternal source are not chance seedlings.
• Red delicious, Baldwin, Grannysmith apples are examples of varieties that
started with chance seedlings that were selected and assigned cultivar status
owing to their desirable properties.
7) Polyembryony: Seeds of some fruits like citrus, Jamun and mango varieties are
capable of giving out more than one seedling from one seed. They arise from the
Nucellar cells and integuments tissues are called poyembyonic. The nucellar seedlings
can be utilized for raising uniform plants, if they can be carefully detected at the
nursery stage.
8)Since most virus diseases are usually not transmitted through seed propagation.
Hence, it is useful in producing virus free plants.
9)Seeds also offer a convenient method for storing plants for a long time. Seeds when
kept properly may remain viable for very long periods. Eg. Indian lotus remains viable
for over 1000 years.
Disadvantages of seed propagation:
1) Seedling trees are not usually true to type and show variation.
2)Seedling trees take more time to come to bearing than grafted plants.
3)Seedling trees, being very large (vigorous growth), pose problems for
efficient management of orchard trees, i.e., harvesting, pruning spraying etc.
become more difficult and expensive.
4) long juvenile (pre-bearing) period.
5) Continuous seed propagation leads to inferiority in the progeny
6) Seeds loose viability with in a short period. Eg. Citrus, mango, jack, papaya,
jamun etc.

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B. Asexual method of propagation
It involves the use of vegetative parts of a plant for reproduction.
Vegetative parts includes any parts of plants like root, stem or leaf other than
seed
Totipotency:
Principally, each cell of a plant is totipotent in the sense that it can produce a
new plant.
True to mother plant : Whatever the characters present in the parent –the same
are carried in the new plants
Advantages of asexual propagation
There are several advantages of asexual propagation:
1. Plants like Banana, Pineapple, fig which do not produce viable
seed can be propagated easily
2. By using vegetative methods, plants can be produced which are true to
type. Such plants are not heterozygous. This helps in maintaining unique
characteristics.
3. It is usually rapid method of multiplication
4. Plants are usually smaller and flower earlier than seed
propagated plants
6.Certain varieties of some fruit plants are susceptible to certain diseases. By
budding o grafting them on a resistant root stock, these varieties can be
grown without pest or disease incidence.
7.It is also possible to grow many varieties on the same plant. E.g: One can
get 3-4 varieties of roses on various branches of the stock plant.
Disadvantages
However, there are some disadvantages too:
• This method cannot be used for developing new varieties
• Sometimes, vegetative propagation becomes more expensive than
seed propagation and these plants are short lived
• Vegetatively propagated plants are comparatively less hardy.
• Transmit viral diseases from plant to plant
• Vegetatively propagated plants are comparatively short lived. Lack of tap
root system in vegetatively propagated plants results in poor anchorage in
the soil
• There is loss of genetic diversity, since asexual propagation does not involve
the process of gamete formation.
• Plants that are genetically identical are not able to change to adapt to
changing environmental conditions, whole communities of genetically
identical individuals may not survive these changes.
1. Utilization of apomictic seeds
2. Utilization of specialized vegetative structures
3. Cutting
4. Layering
5. Grafting
6. Budding
7. Tissue culture
Methods of vegetative propagation

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A.Utilization of apomictic seeds
Apomixis: Development of an embryo without the completion of sexual process
In apomixes seeds are formed but the embryo develop without fertilization. Such seeds are
called apomitic seeds and the seedlings produced in this manner are known as apomitic
seedlings
Apomixis exclude the most fundamental and basic aspects of sexual reproduction i.e.
meiosis and fertilization. Without the requirement for male fertilization, the resulting seed
germinates a plant that develops which will be as exactly as a maternal clone
It is therefore, a form of non-sexual or vegetative propagation.
In normal condition, the embryo is produced from a diploid cell.
However, in apomixis some mechanism prevents the fusion of gametes and
embryo is produced from a diploid mother cell
Apomictic seedlings are identical to their mother plant and similar to the
plants raised by other methods of vegetative propagation.
Another advantage of apomictic seedlings is they are free from viruses.
Apomixis is commonly found in citrus in which nucellar seedlings are
produced.
Nucellar embryony is a type of apomixis
B. Utilization of specialized vegetative structures
There are certain specialized plant parts which can be used for vegetative propagation. It can
include separation or division. In separation, naturally detachable structures like bulbs,
corms, runners, suckers and slips are separated and planted individually.
Division involves cutting of modified plant structures like rhizomes and tubers into sections
having a bud or eye and its planting
Some of them are:
a. Bulbs (Modified underground stems which function as storage organs of food eg. Onion,
garlic etc)
b. Corms (Solid enlarged, fleshy underground stem with reduced scales. Eg.
Colocasia(Karkalo), Gladiolus(Tarbare lily)
c. Runners (Specialized aerial stem (stolon) arising in the leaf axils of the plant Eg.
Strawberry)
d. Slips (They are actual shoots that are originated from axillary buds at the base of the plant.
Eg. Pineapple)
e.Suckers (These are the adventitious shoots produced from the underground portion of the
stem or from horizontal shoots. Eg. Banana, Pineapple)
A. Bulbs B.Corms of Gladiolus

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a.Rhizome: This is an underground stem growing horizontally with several lateral growing
tips Ginger, turmeric, cardamom, Banana, bamboo etc.)
b. Stolon: It is a weak lateral branch that arises from the base of main stem. Eg. mint,
colacassia
c.Stem tuber: A tuber is specialized swollen underground stem which possesses eyes in
regular order over the surface. The eyes represent the nodes of the tuber eg potato
d. Tuberous root In some plants, the adventitious roots become thickened and they do have
external and internal structures of roots but lack nodes and internodes eg. Sweet potato,
dahlia
C. Cuttings
A cutting may be portion of a leaf, stem or root which is severed from its mother plant
and used for propagation. A cutting produces roots and shoots and develops into a new
individual in suitable media
It is the easiest and most convenient method of propagation. The various types of
cuttings are:-
A. Root cutting
B. Stem Cutting (Further divided into Hardwood cutting, semi-hardwood cutting,
softwood cutting and Herbaceous cutting
C. Leaf cutting
Polarity in cuttings
• Polarity is the orientation inherent in a stem or
root cutting. The distal end is nearest to the stem
tip or root tip, while the proximal end is closest to
the root-shoot junction.
• Auxin moves in a polar manner from the distal to
proximal ends of cuttings. Maintaining polarity is
important to decide which end of cuttings to stick
into the medium.
• In Stem cutting, Proximal end is placed
downwards in the soil and in root cuttings
proximal end is placed upwards above the soil

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Stem cutting
It is the most common type of cutting. In this case, the segments of the shoot or branch
with lateral or terminal buds are selected.
Stem cuttings can be divided in to 4 types based on the degree of maturity and
lignification of wood used in making cuttings.
i. Hard wood stem cuttings
ii. Semi hard wood stems cuttings
iii. Soft wood stem cuttings
iv. Herbaceous stem cuttings
The leafless hard wood from previous season growth (non green) or from 2-3 year old
growth is taken.
The size of the cuttings should be 10-30 cm long and diameter should be 1 to 2.5 cm
with 3-5 nodes(Pencil size).
A slanting cut is made on the basal end to give maximum surface area to increase water
uptake and rooting area.
The top portion is cut levelled and wax can be applied to prevent infection. It requires
high humidity for root initiation so, they are kept under mist propagation chambers for
higher percentage of success.
Central and basal part of the stem is good for hard wood cutting as they possees high amount
of carbohydrate which will serve for energy during rooting
The cuttingshould be made from November to February (dormant)
They are used in bougainvillea, roses, grapes, pomegranate, acalphya, hibiscus etc
Hardwood cutting
Stem cutting
b. Semi-hardwood cutting
• Cuttings taken from partially mature and slightly woody shoots are considered as semi-
hardwood cutting
• Cuttings should be taken from healthy vigorously growing shoot under full sunlight
• Generally, 7-15 cm long cuttings with or without terminal buds are taken for this purpose
• While planting leaves from the basal portion are removed
• Practiced in bougainvillea, roses, croton etc

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Stem cutting
c. Soft-wood cuttings
• Cuttings are made from soft, succulent and non-lignified parts of some woody
plants from current season growth
• The cuttings are always taken with intact leaves and should be handled carefully in
order to prevent wilting
• They root faster under conditions of high humidity and adequate sunlight
• Many ornamental shrubs can be propagated by softwood cuttings
Stem cutting
d. Herbaceous cuttings
• In this method, the soft, tender and succulent terminal portion of the stems of
herbaceous plants is used.
• The cutting should be prepared just before they are placed in rooting media
• While planting, the leaves from basal portion should be removed
• They root fastest among all cuttings in environment having high relative humidity
and temperature
• Carnation, chrysanthemum, geranium, marigold, sweet potatoare easily
transplanted by herbaceous cuttings
Leaf Cuttings:
• Certain plants with thick and fleshy leaves have the capacity to produce
plantlets on their leaves.
• In leaf cuttings, the leaf blade with or without petiole and axillary bud is used
for starting new plants.
• Adventitious roots and shoots form at the base of the leaf and form in to a new
plant. However, the original leaf does not become a part of the new plant.
• Sand or sand and peat moss (1:1) as rooting media with high watering as well
as high humidity are satisfactory for leaf cuttings.
Leaf cuttings can be classified into:
1. Leaf-Petiole Cuttings
2. Leaf blade cutting
3. Leaf vein cutting
4. Leaf margin cutting
5. Leaf bud cutting

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1. Leaf-Petiole Cuttings
• A leaf-petiole cutting consists of a leaf and its leaf stalk or petiole.
firm, healthy leaf and cut it off with a sharp knife.
Select a
• Remove a leaf and include up to 11Ú2 inches of the petiole. Insert the lower end
of the petiole into the medium. One or more new plants will form at the base of
the petiole.
• Examples: African violet, peperomia, episcia, hoya, sedum, zz plant,
syngonium.
ZZ plant and syngonium 2. Leaf blade cutting
• Select a healthy leaf and give a slanting cut towards the base of the leaf.
Measure a length of about 7-10 cm and give a horizontal cut towards the
terminal end. Prepare as many cuttings as possible from the selected leaf.
• Insert up to 3/4th of the prepared leaf cuttings in to the medium. Take care of
polarity while planting the cuttings. Compress the soil around the leaf
cuttings and water immediately. Eg. Sansevieria ( snake plant, mother-in-law's
tongue)

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Root cutting
• Some plant species have
tendency to sprout and
produce adventitious shoot
from the roots; root
cuttings can propagate
these species.
• The size of cutting should
be about 3-5 cm long with
a pencil size thickness.
• Eg: Citrus, Guava
B. Layering
• Layering is the developing of roots on a stem while it is still attached to the
parent plant.
• The rooted stem is then detached or become a new plant growing on its own
roots.Alayered stem is known as a layer.
• The root formation during layering on a stem is stimulated by various stem
treatments like ringing, notching etc, which causes an interruption in the
downward translocation of carbohydrates and other growth factors from leaves
and growing shoot tips.
• As a result there occurs accumulation of carbohydrates in the regions where
roots are produced.
• However, the root formation in layered stems, completely depends upon
continuous moisture supply, good aeration and moderate temperature around the
rooting zone.
• Sometimes synthetic growth regulators like IBA, IAA etc, are also treated to
layered stem to induce better rooting, as the auxins in layered stem is an
important factor for rooting.
Advantages:
i.It is an easy method and does not require much care and arrangement like
cutting.
ii.The mother plant supplies nutrient and other metabolites as it remains
attached while rooting.
iii.By using a large branch a much larger plant can be obtained in the first
instance.
iv.Some plants that cannot be satisfactorily started from cuttings can be
propagated by layering.

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Disadvantages:
i. It is a slow process
ii. Limited number of plants can be propagated
iii. Layered plants are generally shallow rooted
iv. Interference with cultivation
v. Require more individual attention
vi. The beneficial effect of root stock cannot be exploited.
Classification of layering:
I. Ground layering:
1) Tip layering
2) Simple layering
3) Trench layering
4) Mound layering or stool layering
5) Compound or multiple layering
II.Air layering (Gootee or Marcottage)
1) Tip layering
• The tip of current seasons stem or branches are bent down and buried in the
soil to the depth of 5-5.7 cm. The tip of shoots grow downward into the
ground. Eg: Blackberry, Raspberry, gooseberry etc.
2) Simple layering
• Bending down a shoot and burying part of it in the soil so that the tip is above
the ground level.
• A notch or girdling in the buried portion stimulates the rooting. Roots are
formed at buried portion where the cut is made.
• Awooden peg or stone may be used to anchor the buried part of the stem.
• Eg: Rose, jasmine, guava

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3) Trench layering
• Abranch is covered for its entire length to produce plants from all nodes or
buds, wherein roots will strike.
• One year old plant is planted slantingly at an angle of (30-45)° at a distance of
1 m apart in the ground.
• Once these materials get established these parent layers are bent over and laid
flat on the bottom of a trench dung along the row about 5 cm deep.
• When the buds start to swell a layer of 2.5 cm soil is placed on the branch.
• Buds don’t grow if covered deep.
• As the shoots grow, more soil is added until they are covered to a depth of
about 12-15 cm so that shoots are etiolated (growing in darkness) and roots are
formed. Eg: Cherry, plum, apple rootstocks.
4) Mound layering or stool layering
• The parent plant which is already established is cut down to the ground level
during the dormant season and new growing shoots are covered with soil to
facilitate root development.
• Wounding (girdling) at the basal portion of new growth hasten the root
initiation. Eg: Rootstock of apple and pear.
5) Compound or multiple layering
• This method produce several new plants from one branch.
• Compound layering may be of two types.
a) Continuous layering: Branch is placed in shallow trench and covered with
soil for its entire length leaving the tip portion.
b) Serpentine layering: Branch is alternately covered with the soil and exposed
over their entire length. In this case the exposed part of the stem gives shoot,
while the underground part to roots. Eg: American grapes, ornamental
vines like clematis and pepermmia.

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Continuous and serpentine compound layering II. Air layering/Chinese layering (Gootee or Marcottage)
• Roots are produced in the attached branch above the ground. At a point 15-30
cm back from the tip of the shoot make a girdle just below a node by
completely removing a strip of bark 2-3.5 cm wide all around the shoot from
one year old pencil size branch.
• Scrape the exposed surface lightly to remove a traces of phloem and cambium
to retard healing.
• Rooting is encouraged by placing rooting media (moist soil and sphagnum
moss) in girdled portion of the branch and wrapped with plastics and then tied
properly.
• Rooting is quickened by applying rooting hormones (auxins like IBA) in the
girdled portion. The polythene sheets permits gaseous exchange but are
impervious to water.
• The roots start emerging on the upper portion of the cut end of the ring within
4-8 weeks, rooted layer is cut and placed in shade in container as new plant.
• Eg. Crotons, Ficus elastica, fig, Guava, Phalsa, Pomegranate, Litchi,
certain species of citrus etc.

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A. By Grafting
• Grafting involves the joining of two different parts of one or more plants in
such a manner that they unite and grow together into single independent plant.
• Scion: Scion refers to that part of a graft combination that becomes the top of
the plant. Scion is the short piece of detached shoot containing 3 or more
dormant buds, which when united with the rootstock or inter-stock, comprises
the upper portion of the graft and from which will grow the stem or branches
or both. It should be of the desired cultivar and free from diseases.
• Rootstock: The rootstock is the lower portion of the graft, which develops
into the root systems of the grafted plant. It may be seedling, a rooted cutting,
or a layered or micropropagated plant.
• Inter-stock: Inter-stock is a piece of stem inserted by means of two graft
unions between the scion and rootstock. In this case the interstock should be
graft compatible with both the scion and stock.
• Inter-stocks are used to avoid an incompatibility between the rootstock and
scion, to produce special tree forms, to control diseases or to take advantage of
its growth controlling properties.

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• Vascular cambium: Vascular cambium is a thin tissue located between the bark
and the wood. Its cells are meristematic i.e. they are capable of dividing and
forming new cells. For successful graft-union, the cambium of the scion is placed
in the close contact with the cambium of the rootstock.
• Callus: Callus is a term applied to the mass of parenchymatic cells that develop
from and around wounded plant tissues. It occurs at the junction of a graft
union, arising from the living cells of both the scion and rootstock. The
production and interlocking of these parenchymatic cells (callus) constitute one
of the important step in callus bridge formation between the scion and rootstock
in a successful graft.
• Reasons for grafting and budding
• Perpetuating clones that cannot be readily propagated by cutting, layers,
division or other asexual methods
• Obtaining the benefits of certain rootstocks
• Obtaining the benefits of certain plants (double working)
• Changing cultivars of established plants (top working)
• Precocity in bearing
• Reduction in juvenility
• Obtaining special forms of plant growth
• Repairing the damaged parts of trees
Double working
• Double working may be done in certain fruit tree grafts where the scion and
understock are incompatible, but the interstock is compatible with both the
scion and understock.
• In the example, 'Bartlett' pear scions are not compatible with quince
understocks.
• 'Old Home' pear is compatible with both 'Bartlett' and quince and serves as a
buffer between the two partners to avoid localized graft incompatibility.

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Elements for successful grafting: There are five important elements
for any successful grafting operation. These are:
 The rootstock and scion must be compatible.
The vascular cambium of the scion must be placed in intimate contact with that of the
rootstock.
The grafting operation must be done at a time when the rootstock and scion are in
the proper physiological stage.
Immediately after completion of grafting, all cut surfaces must be protected from
desiccation.
Proper care must be given to the grafts for some period of time after grafting.
Graft incompatibility
• Graft failure: Failure for a graft to create a strong union either in early stage
of grafting or in later stage.
• Causes of graft failure: Anatomical mismatching, poor graft skills, adverse
environmental conditions, disease and graft incompatibility.
• Incompatibility: The breaking of trees, at the point of union, particularly
when they have been growing for some years and the break is clean and
smooth, rather than rough.

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Symptoms of graft incompatibility
• Complete failure to form a graft union.
• Very low percentage of graft success.
• Union takes place, growth occurs but eventually tree dies either in nursery or in
field.
• Decline in vegetative growth, yellowing of leaves, early defoliation,
appearance of tip die back and general poor growth of the tree.
• Premature death of the plant.
• Difference in growth in scion and rootstock.
• Overgrowth at, above or below the graft union.
• Suckering of rootstock.
• Graft breakage is clean and smooth at union point.
Types of grafting
1. Approach grafting:Eg. Guava, mango,
Sapota.
The scions remains attached to the mother
plant while the rootstocks grown separately on
pots are brought closer to the mother trees for
grafting.
At the time of inarching, the seedlings stock
should have a thickness of a lead pencil.
It is done when the sap is flowing and plant is
in active growth condition(July-August).
Procedure:
• Grow a rootstock in plastic bag or in a pot. When the rootstock becomes 1 year
old (pencil size thickness) then they should be grafted with the scion of
improved cultivars.
• In about 40-60 cm tall one year old seedling rootstock, 12-22 cm above ground
level, 5-6 cm long slice of bark and wood is removed. This cut removes about
one third of the thickness of the stem.
• Select a healthy shoot of having a pencil size thickness on the selected mother
plant which is to be used as a scion source and a corresponding cut is made on
the scion shoot so that two cuts fit in perfectly. The cut given on the stock and
scion should be of the same size.

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• The cuts should be perfectly smooth so that a close contact of the cambial layers
of stock and scion is brought about when they are pressed together. Tie the two
cut surfaces together tightly with string or cloth.
• After union (6-8 weeks after grafting) the top of rootstock is removed above the
graft point and the base of scion shoot is removed below the graft point.
2. Side Veneer grafting: Eg.Avocado, Mango, Sapota, Fig, mangosteen etc.
• On the stock plant, at the desired height (12-15 cm above the ground in 1-1.5
years old rootstock), in the internodal region, a slanting cut of 2.5-5 cm is made
at an angle of (20-25)°.
•A long sloping cut extending downward is made in rootstock (Side grafting)
• On the scion, towards the base, give a long (2.5-5.0cm), slanting cut towards
one side and another short, inward and downward cut on the opposite side. (side
veneer grafting
• The cuts given on stock and scion should be of same dimensions, so that, the
cambium layers can be matched as closely as possible.
• Insert the scion on to the rootstock such that a contact of cambium is established
at least on one side, and tie them firmly. After the union has healed, cut back the
stock above the graft union. Best time to perform this grafting is from July-
August.
Pre-curing of scion:
• In this method scion is prepared from the terminal of the past seasons growth
and used when they are not in active growth (i.e. 3-4 months old non-flowering
branch having swelling bud).
• Pre-curing of scion has to be done when it is still on the tree.
• The selected shoot is defoliated retaining only the petioles up to a length of
about 10 cm from the apical bud.
• The defoliated shoot is left on the tree for a period of 7-10 days.
• During this time, the bud on the axils of shoot begins to swell. This shoot is
then called as Pre-cured scion, which is separated from the tree.

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3. Epicotyl (Stone) Grafting: Eg. Cashew, mango etc.
• Select very young seedling of about 8-15 days old raised in polythene bags.
• Cut off the top portion of the chosen seedling leaving 8-10 cm long shoot
(epicotyl) when the leaves are copper red color.
• With a sharp knife make a vertical, downward slit (3-4cm long) at the center of
the remaining portion of the epicotyl.
• Select a dormant 3-4 months old terminal shoot of about 5-8cm long from a
proven mother plant as the scion stick. Pre-curing of scion should be done 8-10
days before grafting by removing leaves except the petioles.
• Cut the lower end of the selected scion to a wedge shape by giving slanting and
inward cuts of 2-3cm on opposite sides.
• Insert the wedge shaped scion in the slit made on the seedling and secure firmly
with polythene strips or tape.
• Water the graft regularly without wetting the graft region. In about 3 weeks the
scion starts sprouting.
• If the seedlings are raised in sand beds they are uprooted (with stones) 15-20
days after sowing (when seedlings attain 10-15cm height) and grafting is done
as described above.
• The grafted seedling is then planted in polythene bags or pots keeping the graft
union above the soil level and without damaging the stone. June to September
is the best period for epicotyl grafting.
• Graft union takes place within 60-120 days. And plants are ready to transplant
within 2nd years of preparation.
4. Soft wood grafting:
• This method of grafting is done when the rootstock is overgrown and thus not
suitable for stone grafting. Eg. Cashew, Mango
• Seedlings of 8-10 months old are used. The grafting is done in newly emerged
flush. The scion wood to be used is defoliated 10 days prior to the grafting and
has same thickness as that of terminal shoot. July and August are the best
months for soft-wood grafting.

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• Make a longitudinal cut of 3 cm in the stock. Select a scion stick of about 10cm
long and about the same thickness as of the prepared stem on the stock.
• Cut the basal end of the scion to a wedge shape of about 3cm long by chopping
the bark and a little wood on two opposite sides.
• Insert the prepared wedge part of the scion stick into the slit made on the stock
and secure firmly with polythene strips.
• Water the grafted plant regularly. The scion sprouts in about three weeks.
5. Splice grafting
• Nearly equal size of slanting cut should be made on the
lower end of scion and upper end of rootstock.
• These two cut surfaces are placed together, tightly tied
and wrapped with polythene grafting tape.
•Generally practiced in plant species having pithy stem or
wood that is not flexible enough to permit tight fit.
• Splice grafting should be performed during dormant
stage of the species and the tying material must be cut
after the parts of the graft have united. Any shoot
growth in the rootstock should be removed.
• Common in apple, pear, cherries etc.
6. Whip or tongue grafting
• Rootstock and scion are prepared in the same way as in splice grafting.
• The difference is that a tongue is made from a single cut on the cut surface
of both scion and rootstock, so that the cut on the cut surface of both scion
and rootstock will interlock each other by matching cambium layers.
• Also in this method the possible area of contact is greatly increased
because of the creation of the tongue and the scion and stock are held
more firmly by interlocking mechanisms.
• After matching scion and rootstock together they are tied as in splice grafting.
• Commonly practiced in apple, pear etc. and done during dormant stage of plants.

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7. Cleft grafting: Generally used for top working the trees
• Topworking is a technique used in fruit orchards for changing cultivars
without having to plant new trees.
• In this method, the limb or main stem of the stock is first sawed off at right
angle and a vertical slit is made on the center of the stem deep enough to hold
the scion.
• The scion is prepared by cutting its basal end into a long tapering wedge which
is inserted in the slit of the rootstock.
• In larger stocks two scions can be inserted, one in each side of the cleft.
• Proper placement of scion is very important so that there is good contact
between the cambium layers of scion and rootstock.
• In this method smaller scion can be used in the bigger rootstocks.
8. Saddle grafting
• A saddle (inverted V ) cut is made at the lower end of scion. Atapering wedge
is made on the top portion of stock.
• Both the components are fitted together by allowing the cambium layers to
come in contact. Done during dormant stage of species.
• If the cut given in scion is a wedge and that in stock is saddle (V shape), then
the grafting is known as wedge grafting.

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9. Bark grafting: Commonly used in top working 9. Bark grafting: Commonly used in top working
• In this method, the rootstock is stumped.
• A downward cut is made through the bark
of the stem. The cut bark can be split to
adjust the scion.
• The scion is prepared by giving a
downward sloping cut at the basal end as
in cleft grafting.
• Scion is inserted between the bark and the
wood of the rootstock.
• Sometimes 2 or 3 scions are placed in larger
stock.
• The scion is tied and grafting wax is
placed at the grafting joint.
•
• Bark grafting is relatively easy and very successful process done only in spring
after the bark begins to slip and the buds are opening.
• Bark grafting is done normally from the end of March through mid-April.
• Some examples: Mango, Persimmon, apple, citrus, pecan, cherry etc.

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Best time for budding and grafting
A. Grafting
1. For evergreen species : During rainy season
2. For deciduous species : During winter season
B. Budding: For evergreen and deciduous specious budding is done
during spring season.
B. By Budding
• Budding is also a method of grafting
where in only one bud with a piece of
bark and with or without wood is used as
the scion material.
• It is also called as bud grafting.
• The plant that grows after union of the
stock and bud is known as budding.
Methods of Budding
A.T or shield Budding
B.Patch Budding
C.Chip Budding
D.Flute budding
E.Forkert and Modified
Forkert Budding
F.Ring Budding
1. T-Budding (Shield budding): Eg. Citrus, Rose, plums, peaches etc.
• This method is known as T-budding as the cuts given on the stock are of the
shape of the letter T, and shield budding as the bud piece like a shield.
• This method is widely used for propagating fruit trees and many ornamental
plants.
• This method is generally limited to the stock that is about 0.75-2.50cm in
diameter and actively growing so that the bark separate readily from the wood.
Procedure:
• After selecting the stock plant, select an internodal region with smooth bark
preferably at a height of 15-25 cm from ground level.
• Give a vertical cut through the bark to a length of about 2.5-3.75cm.
• At the top of this vertical cut, give another horizontal cut (1cm or 1/3rd of the
circumference of the stem) in such a way that the two cuts given resemble the
letter T.
• Lift the bark piece on either side of the vertical cut for the insertion of the bud.

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• Select a required bud stick and start a slicing cut about 1.5cm below the bud and
continue it upward and under the bud to about 2.5cm above the bud.
• Give another horizontal cut about 1cm above the bud. Remove the shield of
bark containing bud. The traces of wood, if attached may be removed.
• Insert the bud between the flaps of bark on the stock with the help of budding
knife in such a way that the horizontal cut of the shield matches the horizontal
cut on the stock.
• Wrap the bud stick tightly with polythene strip exposing only the bud.
• Successful T budding requires that the scion material have fully-formed,
mature, dormant buds and that the rootstock be in a condition of active growth
such that the "bark is slipping".
• This means that the vascular cambium is actively growing, and the bark can be
peeled easily from the stock piece with little damage.
2. Patch Budding: In this method a regular patch of bark is completely removed
from the stock plant and is replaced with a patch of bark of the same size
containing a bud from the desired mother plant (scion bud).
• For this method to be successful, the bark of the stock and bud stick should be
easily slipping.
• The diameter of the stock and bud stick should be preferably by about the same
(1.5 to 2.75cm)
• Normally done in species having thick bark. E.g., Ber, Citrus, Cocoa, rubber,
mango, walnut etc.
Procedure:
• On the selected stock plant at the desired place (10-15cm above the ground
level) give two transverse parallel cuts of about 1-1.5 cm long or 1/3rd the
distance around the stock through the bark.
• The distance between the cuts may be 2-3 cm. Join the two transverse cuts at
their ends by two vertical cuts.
• Remove the patch of bark and keep it in place again until the bark patch with
the bud from the selected mother plant is ready.

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• On the bud stick give two transverse cuts-one above and one below the bud-and
two vertical cuts on each side of the bud.
• The dimensions of the transverse and vertical should correspond to those given
on the stock.
• Remove the bark patch with bud by sliding side ways. Cuts with bud by sliding
side ways.
• Insert the bud patch immediately on the stock in such a way that the horizontal
cuts of the bark patch and those on the stock plant match together perfectly.
• Wrap the inserted bud patch with polythene strip covering all the cut surfaces
but exposing the bud properly.
3. Chip budding:
• In one side of rootstock, a slanting cut of 2.5 cm
length going to a depth of half of the thickness of
the stock is made. A notch is given at the bottom
end of the cut.
• A similar cut is made in the scion shoot and a
bud with a chip of bark and larger piece of
wood is removed.
• The scion bud is exactly fitted into the cut made
in the rootstock and tied.
• This method is practiced in those species in
which the bark does not slip easily. E.g:
Grapes

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Flute Budding
•Sometimes known as modified patch budding.
•In this method, there is almost complete interruption between the
upper and lower part of the stock.
•Encircled patch of the bark except a narrow strip is removed from the
rootstock.
•Scion is taken by giving two transverse cuts encircling just above
and below the bud, a vertical cut is given between two cuts just to
separate the patch bud (Flute).
•The flute is fitted to the stock and wrapped with budding tape.
Forkert and Modified Forkert Budding
•In this method, a transverse cut is given on the stock and the bark is
carefully peeled down to a depth of about an inch.
•Two third of the flap of the rind thus formed is cut transversely.
•Corresponding size of scion bud should be collected and fitted to the
stock so that the lower end of the patch is covered beneath the
remaining part of rind flap.
•In case of modified forkert method, the entire rind flap is retained
except a slight cut just sufficient to permit the bud growth.

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. Ring budding:
• This method is extension of flute method.
• The bud is prepared by taking a ring of a bark,
3cm long with the bud in the centre.
• In the root stock, two transverse cut 1.5cm apart
aremade and these are connected
with a vertical cut and a ring of bark is removed.
• The prepared scion bud with the ring of bark is
fitted in the exposed portion of the rootstock and
tied. E.g, Cinchona.
Micro-propagation/ Tissue culture/ In-vitro culture
• The ability to establish and maintain plant organs (embryos, shoots, roots,
flowers) and plant tissues (cells, callus and protoplast) in aseptic/sterile (free
from contamination) environment in an artificial nutrient medium.
• Tissue culture is based on the principle of tootipotency.
• The concept of totipotency is that each living cell has the ability to reproduce
an entire organism, since it posses all the necessary genetic information
• Micro propagation is defined as rapid multiplication of stock plant material
to produce a large number of progeny plants through 'in vitro regeneration
of plants from organs, tissues, cells or protoplasts'.
Features of Micro propagation
•Clonal reproduction.
•Multiplication stage can be recycled many times to produce an
unlimited number of clones.
•Easy to manipulate production cycles.
•Disease-free plants can be produced.

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Advantages of Micro-
propagation
•Rapid multiplication of plants from
one stock plant material to many
progenies.
•Aseptic condition thus, maintenance
of largely pathogen free materials.
•Continuous production all year round
•Plant selection.
•Controlled environment
multiplication.
•Micro stock plants maintenance.
•Genetic conservation.
•Expensive lab set-up but
inexpensive per plant once
established.
•Specialized equipment/facilities
required.
•More technical expertise required.
•Protocols not optimized for all
species.
Disadvantages of
Micro-propagation
Types of Micro-propagation
•Embryo culture
•Anther culture
•Protoplast culture
•Cell suspension culture
•Callus culture
•Meristem Culture
Stages of micropropogation
a. Isolation of the explant: Small piece of plant (shoot-tip, root-tip, auxiliary
bud, embryo, endosperm, callus, hypocotyl, anther) used to begin a culture is
explant. Explants are collected in a container containing distilled water.
b. Surface Sterilization: After explant of appropriate size is obtained
sterilization should be done for about appropriate time for 5-10 minutes with
70% alcohol, sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite. The explants are
rinsed 3-4 times with sterile distilled water.
c. Inoculation: Transfer of the explants into the culture medium is known as
inoculation. This must be done in aseptic condition. The sterile explants
are inoculated onto the culture media with appropriate hormonal combination
and incubated in a clean culture room with controlled light, temperature and
humidity. The major hormones required for shooting are the cytokinins.
d. Shoot multiplication: Each explant has expanded into a cluster of
microshoots arising from the base of the explant. This structure is divided into
separate microshoots, which are transplanted into a new culture medium. This is
called subculturing. During the multiplication stage, cultures are subcultured
every 4-8 weeks.

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e. Root formation: Shoots developed during the multiplication stage do not
usually have roots. Single shoots must be moved to a medium or suitable
environment to induce roots. Rooting media is the basal agar media with the
rooting hormones. The major hormones involved in the rooting are auxins,
which induces cell division.
f. Acclimatization: Once plantlets are well rooted, they must be acclimatized to
the normal environment. Therefore, plantlets are transplanted into a standard
sterilized rooting media in more or less conventional manner. Initially,
microplants should be protected from desiccation by placing under shade with
high humidity or under mist or fog irrigation system. Some time will take by
microplants to initiate new functional root system.
Merits of micro propagation:
a) Tissue culture helps in rapid multiplication of true to type plants throughout
the year.
b)A new plant can be regenerated from a miniature plant part, whereas, in
conventional methods a shoot of considerable length is required.
c)Large number of plants can be produced in culture tubes in small space with
uniform growth and productivity instead of growing them in large areas in
nursery.
d) Plants raised by tissue culture are free from diseases.

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e)Tissue culture coupled with somatic hybridization (production of hybrid
cells by fusion of two protoplasts with different genetic makeup) helps in
evolving new cultivars in a short time.
f)Micro propagation facilitates long distance transport of propagation materials
and long term storage of clonal materials.
g)Tissue culture methods are particularly effective in plants that don‘t breed true
from seeds, seeds are not viable (male sterile) or not available (banana) and in
plant where propagation by conventional methods are expensive (Orchids)
Mist Propagation
• Mist propagation involves spraying of water in the form of mist, which is either
done continuously or intermittently to maintain high humidity.
• The plants produced through tissue culture or the soft wood leafy cuttings do
not survive, when transferred to open field conditions, primarily due to
excessive evaporative loss of water from above ground portion of
plants/cuttings.
• The excessive loss of water from leaves of cuttings and from the tender tissue
culture plants can be prevented by use of misting.
• The aim of misting is to maintain continuously a film of water on the leaves,
thus reducing transpiration and keeping the cuttings turgid until rooting takes
place.
Advantages
• This system keeps leaves cool and moist. This maintains turgor pressure and
prevents from wilting. Because of lack of roots cuttings must be kept moist to
ensure survival.
• Mist also prevents disease infection in cuttings by way of washing off fungus
spores before they attack the tissues.
• The success of the propagation is high in mist propagation structure as this
method results in faster rooting of the cuttings.
• Create optimum Microclimate for better root initiation and development.
Higher success rate found in propagation of hard wood cuttings.