Propagation of plants involves the formation and development of new individuals,

which are used in establishment of new plantings. It is simply the reproduction or

multiplication of a plant from a source that is often referred to as a mother
plant. In general, two methods are employed:

1) Sexual propagation is multiplication of plants from seed, and

2) Asexual or vegetative propagation involves starting a new plant from
some vegetative part of a plant.

SEXUAL PROPAGATION IN PLANTS

Multiplication of plants by using seed is called as sexual propagation.

Advantages:

1. The plant raised by seed is planted lived.

2. They are hardy with deep root system. So they are vigorous in growth.

3. The possibility is there to obtain change in seedling, the performance of which

are better than their parents. E.g. mango variety like Alpahanso Dasharia.

4. The polyembryony. The phenomenon of propation of more than one seedling

from a single seed, produce true to type, nuclear embryonic seedling which could
be used as rootstock for uniform performance. E.g. Mango, varieties. Olour and
bappakal. It is also common in citrus and jamun.

5. Seed propagation is necessary when vegetative propagation is unsuccessful or

expenses e.g. papaya, coconut and Areca nut.

6.Exoplotaion of hybrid, vigor is possible only when when the hybrid s are
multiplied in the first instance through sexual propagation although subsequent
fixing of heterocyst is effected through vegetative propagation, e.g. Sapota (
Cricket Ball X oval ) and ratna Mango ( Alpahanso *Neelum ).

7. Roots stocks are usually raised by seed e.g. Rangpur lime and Jamberi for
citrus.

8. When seedling is required in large number, seed propagation is the only easy
mean e.g. Dry land fruit, and Forest spp.

Disadvantages:

1. When progenies are not true type an so they become inferior because in the
commercial orchard, it is necessary to have uniform quality, growth and yielding
capacities.

2. Choice tree or any hybrid trees cannot be perpetuated true to type by seed.
(except in Apomixes )
3. Seedling has a long juvenile period. In crops like citrus, coca, and rubber. The
seeds must be sown afresh. i.e. immediately after extraction. Many varieties are
seedless.

4.Seeds lose its viability in short period

.
Seed Germination and Seed Propagation:

Seed propagation is necessary in the following cases:

i) Where vegetative propagation is unsuccessful or difficult or expensive.

ii) It is necessary for raising rootstock for grafting and budding. E. g Rangpur lime
and Jamberi for citrus, khirni for Sapota.

In all such cases rootstock plants have to be raised through seeds mostly.

Seed Formation and Maturity:

Seed develops along with the fruit and reaches, full size and maturity when the
fruit ripens. Hence seed should be extracted only from ripe fruit. Seeds gathered
from immature fruit may not germinate to under favorable conditions and may
loose viability more quickly than fully matured seeds.

Seed Storing:

Seeds should be normally stored in relatively dry condition at low temperature.

Some seeds should be sown immediately after extraction. (Citrus).Other must be
kept for sometimes depending upon the kind of plant. Seeds of most plant retain
their viability longer when stored at a relatively low then at a high temperature.
Hence store the seeds in dry, cool place. If exported to damp atmosphere, even
after through drying seeds absorb moisture and rapidly deteriorate. Some seeds
like close of apple, stone fruit loose viability if dried after harvest. They require to
be kept moist and exposed o cold or freezing temperature, known as stratification
to after ripen dormant and to modify seed coverings.

Dormancy:

It is term used to describe a seed that will not germinate because of any condition
associated either with the seed itself or with existing environmental factors such
as temperature and moisture.

Some seeds may even germinate within the fruit, e.g. Jack, avocado, chow- chow,
papaya, called as Viviparous germination.

Best Period:

Some seeds will not germinate immediately after harvest even if conditions are
favorable. This failure to germinate is due to physiological condition. This is said
to be the seeds are in the rest period or they require rest period after ripening
period.
Seed viability and longevity:

Viability means the presence of life in the seed. Longevity refers to the length of
time that seeds will retain their viability viability. Some seeds are short lived.
(Citrus).

Pre germination Seed Treatment:

1. Chemical (Acid scarification):

The purpose is to modify hard or important or impermeable seed covering

generally soaking seed in concentrated sulphuric acid is an effective method. The
time of treatment may vary from 10 minutes to 6 hour according to species. After
treatment seeds are thoroughly washed in clean water to make them free of acid
and then re sown immediately. i.e. the seeds of ber, cotton, Asparagus are treated
with 50% concentrated H2so4. The seeds are soaked in acid for 3 to 5 minutes.

2. Mechanical (Scarification):

Seeds of a few species with impermeable seed coat. i.e. hard seed coat can be
rendered permeable to water and gases their germination is greatly improved by
mechanical scarification in taking care that seeds should be injured not be injured
heavily. This can be achieved by

i) Placing the seeds between two sand paper doses, one station and other
revolving.

ii) Passing seeds through machine that scratches the surface.

iii) Filling and notching to make the seed coat permeable to water.

iv) By use of harmer. E.g. Lotus Anna.

3. Seedling (Boiled Water Treatment):

Pouring boiling water over seeds and getting it to cool gradually for about 12
to 24
hours to soften dry and hard shelled seeds. E.g. Coffee, chicku, canna , Babul,
Chillar,etc.This will lasten the process of germination.

4. Soaking in Water:

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. The time of
soaking seeds in cold water depend upon the hardness of the seed coat. E. g
Gulmohar, peas, beans, cassia tree etc.

5. Stratification (Moist Chilling):

Seed of many woody trees or shrubs are exposed to low temperature to bring
about prompt and uniform germination. Stratification. Stratification has some
benefit in softening the seed coats. The seeds are arranged in alternate layers of
sand in shallow boxes for pits or trenches. This condition helps in rapid
germination peach cherry, plum, oat, grapes.

SEED GERMINATION

Annual plants and most biennial plants begin their growth and development cycles
at seed germination. Many perennial plants also begin their first growth cycle this
way. Seeds capable of germination are said to be viable. They contain a living
embryo that is respiring at a low level.

Germination starts when a seed first takes in water and ends when the seedling
is self sustaining. Before germination can occur, a seed must be surrounded by
suitable environmental conditions. The environmental factors affecting seed
germination are water, oxygen, temperature, and light. All species require a
continuous supply of oxygen and water for germination, but they vary
considerably in their specific temperature and light requirements. Usually a
species only needs the temperature to remain within a certain range, rather than
at a specific degree, in order to germinate.

Germination rates under optimal environmental conditions vary among species,

butthe relative rate of germination for a species is determined largely by how
closely the surrounding environmental conditions match the optimal ones.

ASEXUAL OR VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION

Asexual propagation is the multiplication of a plant through some vegetative
parts. Plant propagation methods that are included in this system are cuttings,
layering, grafting and Budding.

CUTTINGS
The most common method to propagate plants asexually is from cuttings. Cuttings
can be made from stems, roots, leaves, or combinations of plant parts such as
stems with leaves .Cuttings should be taken from healthy plants with desirable
characteristics, and placed in a warm, humid environment to hasten root
development and prevent them from drying.

Stem cuttings

Stem cuttings can be taken at different stages of vegetative maturity and may
consist of just the growing tip of a plant or sub terminal stem sections. Some
plants root better from softwood cuttings, while others should be propagated from
semi-hardwood or hard wood cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings are taken after a
plant has matured.
Stems cuttings are removed using a clean, sharp knife or pruner. Cuttings 4 to 6
inches
(10 to 15 cm) in length are appropriate for most plants. Leaves are removed from
the
bottom 1 inch (2.5 cm) of stem cuttings, and then the cuttings are stuck upright
in a
propagation medium. Insert the cuttings just deep enough-usually V2 to 1 inch
(1.2 to
2.5 cm) - into the propagation medium to hold them upright. A mixture of equal
volumes of peat moss and coarse perlite is a suitable rooting medium for most
plants, but combinations of other materials such as shredded sphagnum,
vermiculite, and sand have also proven satisfactory.
Root-promoting chemicals (hormones) can be applied to the basal 1/2 inch (1.2
cm)
of cuttings before sticking them in a medium to enhance rooting of some plants;
Root
promoting chemicals are primarily composed of auxins: IBA and/or NAA.

Leaf cuttings

Leaf cuttings may be comprised of only the leaf blade or the leaf blade and petiole.
Begonias are commonly propagated by leaf cuttings. Leaf cuttings of many plants
can be stuck upright in the propagation medium. When sub-terminal sections of
leaves are used, make sure the basal end of the cutting is inserted into the
propagation medium. Roots and new shoots will start at the base of the leaf or at
points where the veins were cut.

Root cuttings

Root cuttings are usually taken from young plants in early spring or late winter,
before they start growing. Root cuttings are typically 2 to 7 inches (5 to 18 cm)
in length depending upon root diameter. Large roots can be cut shorter than small
roots and still have an adequate food supply for root and shoot initiation and
growth. Small, delicate root cuttings (1/8 to % inch or 3.2 to 6.4 mm in diameter)
should be positioned
horizontally in the propagation medium and covered with 1/2 inch of medium.
Larger root cuttings (1/4 to 1/2 inches or 6.4 to 12.8 mm in diameter) can be
planted vertically with the end of the cutting originally nearest the plant crown
positioned upward. Optimum temperatures for most root cuttings range from 55F
to 65F (13C toI8C). Root cuttings may be transplanted after shoots have
emerged and sufficient new
secondary roots have developed . The principal disadvantage of this method is the
amount of work involved in obtaining the root cuttings.

LAYERING

Layering is a relatively easy method of propagation by which new plants are

formed while attached to the parent plant. The new plant receives nutrients and
water from the parent plant until roots develop. This method of asexual
propagation yields a large plant in a relatively short time, and is an excellent way
to produce a small number of plants in the home landscape, or to propagate plants
that are difficult to increase by other methods.
Layering is the development of roots on a stem while it is still attached to the
parent plant. The rooted stem is stem is then detached to become a new plant
growing on its own roots. Thus rooted stem stem is known as layer.

The various types of layering are simple, compound, mound, and Air layering.

A) Simple Layering or Tongue Layering:

In this method a branch is bent to the ground and some portion of it, is covered
by soil leaving the terminal and of the branch exposed. Root initiation takes place
at the buried portion. After the root initiation. i.e. after allowing sufficient time the
layer is separated from the mother plant by cutting the layered shoot. E.g. Guava,
jasmine, etc.

B) Compost or Spending Layering:

Compound layering in essentially the same as simply layering. Except that the
branch is alternatively covered and exposed along length. The branch for
compound layering must be longer one, so that is can be layered at different place
and to branch. This method can be longer one, so that it can be layered at different
place and to branch. This method can be followed easily for creepers. E.g. Guava.

C) Mound Stool Layering:

In this method a plant is cut back at the ground during the dormant season, and
soil is covered at the base of the newly developing shoots. After allowing sufficient
time for root initiation, the rooted shoots are separated and taken as individual
layers.

D) Air Layering:

In air layering, roots, from on an aerial shoots. The rooting medium will be tied to
the shoots for getting root initiation. Best rooting medium for air layering is
sphagnum- moss as it holds large amounts of water so as to supply moisture to
the layered shoot till proper root initiation takes place, (e.g. Pomegranate , fig )

GRAFTING

Grafting and budding is a art joining two different plant parts together, in such a
manner that they unites and continues their growth as simple plant. In case of
building single bud is inserted in to the stock, where as in grafting a bud stick
consisting two or more buds is inserted in to the stock.

Stock is a lower portion of the graft union, whereas scion is the upper portion a
place at which both unites is termed as scion or graft union.

BUDDING

Budding is the vegetative method of plant propagation and can be defined as an

art of insertion of a single mature bud in to the stem of the rootstock in such way
that the union takes place and the combination continues to grow. It is grafting of
a single individual bud instead of whole bud stick on scion as in done in case of
grafting.

There are several techniques or methods of insertion of bud in to the root stock.
The adoption of any of the methods like grafting depends upon the plants to be
budded, situation, facilities and source available etc.

Advantages of Vegetative Propagation:

1. The progenies are true to type like mother plant.

2. Vegetative propagation is the only alternate where no seed is formed or

germination of seed is very slow or no viable seed is formed. (e.g. Banana, Pine
apple and roses, seedless grape ).

3. Certain rootstock has the capacity of resisting or tolerating the adverse

environment factors such as frost and adverse soil factors like salinity or alkalinity.
E.g. frost resistance, foncirus trifoliate (Trifoliate orange ). Rangpur lime.
4. The ability of certain rootstock to resistant pest and diseases can be
advantageously expected. An apple when grafted on rootstock like Merton
778,793 is resistant for wholly aphid.

5. Vegative propagated plants are generally dwarfed in nature than the seedlings.
Dwarf trees facilitate pruning spraying and harvesting easy seedling. Dwarf trees
facilate pruning, spraying and harvesting easy and more number of plants can be
accommodated in a unit area.

6. To replant an undesirable existing tree either with reference to its quality or

susceptibility to pests and diseases. The defect can be overcome easily by
vegetative propagation through grafting or budding of desirable scion to the
existence tree by top working technique.
7. Many plants are propagated by vegetative means because of the speedy easy
of multiplication.
8. Novelty can be developed by grafting or budding on single plant many varieties.
E.g. Roses.
9. To convert inferior varieties in superior, side grafting in mango.
Disadvantages:
1. Plant is not vigorous and long lived.
2. No new varieties are evolved or developed.
3. These methods are expensive and labourious and time consuming.