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