Colorado AgriScience Plant Science

1
Colorado AgriScience Plant Science

• Unit 4 Reproduction Genetics
• Lesson 4 Asexual Propagation I

2
Asexual Propagation

• Use of vegetative parts of a plant to increase
  its number
• Advantages
• Economy
• Time
• Plants that are identical to the parent
• Methods
• Cuttings, layering, division, grafting, tissue
  culture

3
Stem Cuttings

• Tools
• Sharp knife, single edge razor, disinfectant
• Remove all flowers buds
• Plant needs to utilize energy for root
  development
• Apply Rooting Hormone
• Use proper soil medium

4
Vegetative Parts of a Plant
5
Stem Tip Cuttings

• Normally include the terminal bud
• Stem 2-4 is used
• Cut made just below the node
• Remove lower leaves
• Apply rooting hormone
• Insert in media deep enough to be self supporting
• 1 node must be below the surface of the media for
  root growth to occur

6
Stem Section Cuttings

• Use middle portion of stem behind the tip
  cuttings, 2-4 sections are needed
• Remove lower leaves
• Cut just above a node on each end
• Handle as a tip cutting
• Position the cutting with the right end up
• Axial buds are always on the tops of the leaves

7
Cane Cuttings

• For plants with cane like stems
• Stems cut into sections with 1 or 2 nodes
• Dust ends with fungicide
• Dry cane for 1-2 hours
• Place cane horizontally with half the cane below
  the surface of the media
• The eyes or nodes should face upward

8
Cane Cuttings
9
Heel Cuttings

• Used on woody stemmed plants
• Shield shaped cut made ½ way through the wood
  around the leaf axial bud
• Apply rooting hormone
• Insert into media

10
Single-Eye Cuttings

• Used on plants with alternating leaves
• Cut ½ above below the node
• Apply rooting hormone
• Place vertically or horizontally

11
Double-Eye Cutting

• Used on plants with opposite leaves
• Used when stock material is limited
• Select single node
• Cut ½ above below the node
• Apply rooting hormone
• Place vertically

12
Leaf Cuttings

• Made from leaf with the petiole cut to less then
  ½
• Make a clean cut
• Apply rooting hormone
• Place vertically in rooting media

13
Leaf Petiole Cuttings

• Used on a leaf with ½ 1 ½ long petiole
• Place vertically in media
• Several plants will develop from the base of the
  petiole

14
Leaf Section Cuttings
15
Leaf Section Cuttings

• Leaves such as begonia are cut into wedges, each
  containing at least 1 vein
• Make the cut in a wedge shape with the bottom
  being the point
• Done so you can tell the top from the bottom
• Sections are then placed in media
• New plants will form where the vein is in contact
  with the media

16
Split-Vein Cuttings

• Used with large leaf plants such as begonias
• Remove leaf from stock plant
• Slit veins on the bottom surface of the leaf
• Place the leaf on rooting media with the slits
  down
• A new plant will form at each of the slits

17
Split-Vein Cuttings
18
Root Cuttings

• Use plants that are 2 -3 years old
• Make cuttings when plant is dormant
• They will have larger supplies of carbohydrates
• Top cut is straight bottom cut is slanted
• Plants with large roots
• Use section 4-6 inches long
• Plants with small roots
• Use section 1-2 inches long

19
Root Cuttings

• Store cutting 2-3 weeks in moist peat moss or
  sand at a temperature of 40 degrees
• Large roots
• Plant vertically with the slant cut down
• Top should be flush with surface of media
• Small roots
• Place cutting horizontally ½ below media surface