Vegetative propagation involves and kept moist until they begin to
VEGETATIVE fragmentation, the separation of parts develop new roots.
of the parent plant, regeneration of
PROPAGATION those parts into new individuals. Any
part of the plant (leaf, stem, bud or
root) can serve the role. The parts are
often highly specialized for the task and
bear little resemblance to the original
plant organa from which they have
evolved. A typical example is the
potato which is a modified stem.
Artificial Methods of
Vegetative Propagation
1. Divisions- popular method used by
Plants are capable of reproducing
gardeners to multiply plants. Gingers
asexually by vegetative propagation
(Alpinia sp.), heliconias
which is the most common form of
(Heliconiaceae) and orchids can be
asexual reproduction in flowering
easily propagated by the division of
plants. The vegetative reproductive
structures are as follows: clumps at the root connections that
have a growing point.
1. Stolons
2. Cuttings- cutting is a portion of a
2. Rhizomes plant stem that has nodes. They are
dipped into rooting hormone powder
3. Corms
before planting. The rooting hormone
powder causes the cuttings to develop
4. Bulbs
roots faster. The cuttings are then
5. Tubers placed in damp soil, sand or compost
3. Grafting- this is used for valuable
cultivars that are difficult to propagate
or for those that are more vigorous
when grown on another plant. The
stock is the plant that provides the root
system and the grafted shoot is called
the scion. The stock and scion are
chosen from closely related plant
species, the scion is inserted into the
cambium layer of the stock and
secured, and the scion and stock will
eventually grow as a single plant. The
cambium is a layer of cells in the stem
between the xylem and the phloem that
actively divide. This is a method used
particularly for fruit trees like mango
and citrus.
4. Air layering- is a method used to root
a stem while it is still attached to the
parent. The stem is cut just above the
node and wedged opened to separate
the cut surfaces. Sphagnum moss is
wrapped around the cut stem and kept
moist until the roots form, the air-
layered plant is removed after it
develops a root system.
Micro-propagation
Micro-propagation which is sometimes
referred to as tissue culture propagation
or cutting is the test-tube methods of
culturing whole plants asexually from
very small pieces of tissue (explants)
cut from the parent plant.
Each non-reproducing body cell
(somatic cell) of a plant has the
potential to form a whole plant. This is
called toti-potency. The conditions
necessary for toti-potency are:
- A source of energy
- Water
- Suitable nutrient medium that
includes mineral salts, vitamins and
growth regulators
- A suitable temperature
- Suitable levels of light
- Sterile conditions which must be
maintained until an independent plant
is formed in order to exclude
microorganisms that would find the
culture medium an ideal place in which Plants can be rapidly multiplied
to grow from a mother plant which has
desirable characters
Plants can be maintained free of
pests and diseases
The use of tissue culture
plantlets in area that are free to
nematodes means that
nematicides do not have to be
applied to the soil to control
these pests.
There is a high survival rate
(98%) of tissue culture plantlets
under field conditions
Plants from tissue culture
plantlets grow faster in the early
growing stages than those from
Micro-propagation is used for suckers
In comparison with suckers,
ornamental and horticultural plants, the
tissue culture plants are cheaper
rapid introduction of new varieties of
and easier to propagate and
plants, disease elimination and storage
of genetic material. This type of transport
Tissue culture plants grow
propagation is used extensively in
uniformly in the field and all
sugar cane cultivation to develop plants
that are virus free. flower and bear fruit at the same
time
The main advantages of the use of
tissue culture are as follows: