Originally developed by: Fred Burkey

Originally developed by: Fred Burkey
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods
Martin and St. Lucie County
Martin County/UF/IFAS Extension
2614 SE Dixie Hwy., Stuart, FL 34996
(772) 288-5654
Plant propagation involves the control of two basically different
types of developmental life cycles SEXUAL and ASEXUAL
SEXUAL PROPAGATION
* UNION OF MALE AND FEMALE SEX CELLS
* FORMATION OF SEEDS
* POPULATION OF SEEDLING INDIVIDUALS
NEW AND SIMILAR AND DIFFERING GENOTYPES
ASEXUAL PROPAGATION
New individual possesses EXACTLY the same characteristics as the
parent plant
BASIC CONCEPTS
Classification of Horticultural Plants
Annuals:
* Lives for only one year
Perennials:
* Lives for more than two years
Herbaceous perennials are characterized by soft succulent tissue
Woody Perennials are characterized by tough woody tissue (trees)
REASONS FOR SEED PROPAGATION
* Many seeds can be harvested from a plant
* Many plants can be propagated from a single
mature plant
* Sometimes seedage is the only practical means of
propagation
* Seed propagation offers genetic variability
* Selection of plants with unique features is possible
* Systematic breeding for identified characteristics is
possible
DISCRIPTION OF SEEDS:
* Embryo
* Food storage tissue
* Seed covering
SEED COLLECTION:
* Collect when ripe before they drop to the ground
* Seed maturity is often difficult to determine
SEED CLEANING:
* Pulp should be removed
* Seeds may be cleaned individualy or in bulk
SEED VIABILITY:
* It is often difficult to determine viability
* Steins can be used
* Viable and dead seeds can be seperated in water
SEED STORAGE:
* Seeds of many plants can be stored
* length of storage differs with plant species
* Seed moisture content should be reduced
* Many seeds store best at 34 to 50 degrees
* Container relative humidity should be 20-30 %
SEED GERMINATION:
* Activation
* Digestion
* Cell division and elongation
DORMANCIES:
* Protective mechanisms allowing seeds to germinate
at the appropriate time
* Dormancy can be a hard coat
* Pulp can contain germination inhibitors
* Embryo immature when fruit is ripe
* Some seed have double or multiple dormancy
OVERCOMING SEED DORMANCIES
SCARIFACATION:
* Breaking of the impermeable seed coat
* Mechanical means
= hammer, pliers, sand paper,knife
* Acid means
= Sulfuric acid is normally used (DANGEROUS)
STRATIFICATION:
* Providing a moist chilling treatment
SOAKING IN WATER:
* Will often soften seed coats
SEED SOWING:
* Germinate seeds in a controlled environment
* Use a sterile medium
* Well drained and sufficient moisture
* Particle size must be considered
* Planting depth differs with seed
TRANSPLANTING:
* Transplant seedlings before they
overgrow container
* Seedlings must be hardened off
REASONS FOR VEGATATIVE PROPAGATION
* Inability to reproduce viable seed
* Inability to produce true to type from seed
* To perpetuate a particular form of a plant
* To speed increase in numbers
* To develop immunity to pests
* Adaptation to habitat
* To modify habit of growth
PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS
CUTTINGS ARE TAKEN FROM:
* Stems
* Leaves
* Roots
* Leaf bud cuttings
AGE OF CUTTINGS:
* Softwood
* Semihardwood
* Hardwood
ROOTING HORMONES:
* Auxins or hormones that stimulate root initiation
* Indolebutyric acid (IBA) Naphthalenacetic acid (NAA)
* Range between beneficial and toxic levels is narrow
* Some plants will root easily without application
* Careful testing by propagators is needed
STOCK PLANTS:
* Cuttings taken from production plants
* Stock plants should be monitored
* Proper nutrition and care must be provided
TAKING AND PREPARING CUTTINGS:
* Desired characteristics and proper age
* Optimum size
* Handled to reduce water stress
* Proper storage temperature
STICKING THE CUTTINGS:
* Only deep enough to support the cutting
* Stem cuttings to a depth ½ to 1 inch
* Root cuttings pressed into surface/lightly cover
ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFIATIONS:
* Minimize stress
* Near 100 percent relative humidity
* Intermittent mist
* Fog system/Miniature greenhouse
POST-ROOTING CARE:
* As soon as roots appear they can absorb nutrients
* Liners must be hardened before transplanting
PROPAGATION BY DIVISION
BULBOUS PLANTS:
* True bulbs
* Corms
* Tubers
* Tuberous roots
* Rhizomes
* Stolons
* Pseudobulbs
BULBOUS PLANTS
TRUE BULBS:
* Short fleshy vertical stem
* Thick fleshy modified leaves (scales)
* Distinct basal plate
* Some bulbs have outer membrane (tunic)
BULBOUS PLANTS
CORMS:
* Modified stems with a terminal bud
* Enclosed by tunic
* A new corm develops below original
* Cormels develop at base of new corm
BULBOUS PLANTS
TUBERS:
* Modified underground stems
* Nodes and axiliary buds (eyes)
* Propagated by cutting into sections
TUBEROUS ROOTS:
* True roots
* Lack nodes and internodes
* Bud present on shoot end
* Propagated by stem,leaf, or leaf-bud cutting
BULBOUS PLANTS
RHIZOMES AND STOLONS:
* Modified horizonal stems
* Rhizomes grow in the soil
* Stolons grow above the soil
PSEUDOBULBS:
* Means false bulb
* Modified stems for food storage
* Offshoots develop (keikis)
* Commonly produced by orchids
PROPAGATION BY DIVISION
MULTISTEMS AND/OR CLUMP GROWTH HABIT:
* Herbaceous perennials
* Several woody plants
* Simply separate clump into pieces
* Divided pieces planted at same depth
MULTISTEMS AND/OR CLUMP GROWTH HABIT
CLUMP DIVISION:
* Separating clump into pieces
* Plants with multiple stems Suckers
PROPAGATION BY LAYERAGE
PRINCIPLE USES OF LAYERING:
* Plants that reproduce naturally this way
* Plants whose cuttings do not root easily
* Produce a large plant in a short time
* Produce small numbers of plants of good size
PROBLEMS:
* Considerable labor
* Cumbersome
* Expensive
COMMON LAYERAGE:
* Bend branch to ground and cover
COMPOUND LAYERAGE:
* Bend branch alternately cover
MOUND LAYERAGE:
* Before new growth cut back
* When shoots have grown Add soil
REASONS FOR AIR LAYERING:
* Plants that do not sucker readily
* Stems so large bending impossible
* Latent buds near base will not regenerate
PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING AND BUDDING
REASONS FOR GRAFTING AND BUDDING:
* Can’t be reproduced by other asexual means
* Change the size of the resultant plant
* To produce pest resistance
* To change the form or variety of a plant
* To produce earlier flowering or fruiting
* To repair damaged plants
* Develop plants tolerant to environmental conditions
REQUIRMENTS FOR SUCCESS:
* Stock and scion must be compatible
* Cambial regions of stock and scion must be intimate
* Stock and scion in proper physiological stage
* All cut pieces must be protected
* Proper care until graft unites
GRAFTING METHODS
CLEFT GRAFT:
* One of the oldest and widely used types
* Used to convert old varieties into newer varieties
GRAFTING METHODS
WHIP-AND-TONGUE:
* Probably the most used
* Primarily under 1 inch of equal diameter
GRAFTING METHODS
BARK GRAFT:
Other GRAFTING METHODS
BUDDING METHODS
T OR SHIELD BUDDING:
* Scion piece is reduced to a single bud
* Fully-formed, mature, dormant, buds
* Active growth rootstock (bark is slipping)
• Landscape Plant Propagation Information
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/lppi/index.htm
• Seed Propagation of Woody Ornamentals
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP029
• Propagation of Woody Ornamentals by Cuttings
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP030
• Propagation of Woody Ornamentals by Grafting and
Budding http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP031