Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Sources of Cutting Material In cutting propagation, the source of the cutting material is very important. The stock plants and other sources from which the cutting material is obtained should be: Free of disease and insect pests True-to-name and type

In the proper physiological state so that cuttings root successfully.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

1

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Sources of Cutting Material Sources of cutting material include:

Stock plants specially maintained as a source of cutting material. Prunings from nursery plants as they are trimmed and shaped. Tissue-culture-produced liners. Buying in small, rooted liner plants or unrooted cuttings. From plants growing in the landscape. Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

2

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Sources of Cutting Material Stock plants specially maintained as a source of cutting material. Although stock plants may occupy valuable land space, this is probably the ideal source of cutting material.

There is an accurate history and identity for each stock plant. Stock plants of Pittosporum tobira.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

3

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Sources of Cutting Material Prunings from nursery plants as they are trimmed and shaped. Many nurseries take cuttings from field-grown or containerized production plants.

Cuttings of easy-to-root species are taken during normal production pruning cycles. More difficult-to-root species are taken when rooting is optimum.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

4

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Sources of Cutting Material Tissue-culture-produced liners. Tissue-culture-produced liners are sources of new “clean” stock plants that are from disease-indexed plants. Flushes of new growth from tissue culture liners can also be used as cuttings. Red maple cuttings taken from tissue culture liners being stuck in a conventional cutting bed. Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

5

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Sources of Cutting Material Buying in small, rooted liner plants or unrooted cuttings. Sometimes it may be cheaper for a grower to buy-in rooted liners or unrooted cuttings from a company specializing in custom propagation liners rather than maintaining inhouse stock plants.

A shipment of unrooted cuttings from a Central American company. Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

6

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Sources of Cutting Material Buying in small, rooted liner plants or unrooted cuttings. Rooted or unrooted cuttings may also be the only source available for patented plants.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

7

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Sources of Cutting Material From plants growing in the landscape. This may be the least desirable source for cutting material because the grower does not control growth of the stock plant. Care must be taken to secure appropriate permissions and to ensure proper identification of the species and cultivar prior to propagation.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

8

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Stock Plant Manipulation Stock plants are manipulated to maximize the rooting potential prior to taking cuttings.

Treatments include: Pruning Girdling Etiolation or shading

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

9

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Stock Plant Manipulation – Pruning Annual pruning is an important aspect of stock plant management in relation to: (a) maintenance of juvenility to improve rooting. (b) plant shaping for easier and faster collection of propagules. (c) increased cutting production. (d) timing of flushes. (e) reducing reproductive shoots.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

10

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Stock Plant Manipulation – Girdling

Girdling shoots of stock plants prior to taking cuttings has been used successfully to propagate difficult-to-root cuttings.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

11

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Stock Plant Manipulation – Girdling

The treatment consists of girdling shoots by removing 2.5 cm (1 in.) of bark, applying IBA talc, and wrapping the shoot with polyethylene film and aluminum. Once primordia become visible as small bumps in the callus, the cutting is removed from the stock plant and rooted under mist.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

12

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Stock Plant Manipulation – Etiolation and Shading

Scheme for etiolated softwood cutting propagation using Velcro fabric strips as the blanching material.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

13

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Stock Plant Manipulation – Etiolation and Shading Etiolation of Kalmia latifolia. Black velcro (arrow) with an auxin talc is wrapped around the base of the etiolated shoots, which are gradually exposed to higher light irradiance. After the shoots green up, they are removed and rooted under mist as softwood cuttings. Courtesy of B. Maynard Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

14

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Stock Plant Manipulation – Etiolation and Shading Highest rooting occurred with Corylus colurna shoots that were etiolated and banded with velcro, then made into cuttings and treated with 2000 mg.L-1 IBA.

Courtesy of B. Maynard Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

15

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Stock Plant Manipulation – Etiolation and Shading

„Madame Lemoine‟

„Charles Joly‟

Improved rooting following etiolation of Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) stock plants.

Etiolated

Light

Etiolated

Light

B.H. Howard, East Malling, UK. Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

16

Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings Stock Plant Manipulation – Etiolation and Shading Plants that show enhanced rooting when stock plants receive less light. Treatment Shading Etiolation Banding Etiolation + banding

Genus Rhododendron Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus) Hazel (Corylus) Lilac (Syringa) Norway maple (Acer) Linden (Tilia) Birch (Betula) Hornbeam (Carpinus) Maynard and Bassuk, 1987.

Hartmann and Kester‟s Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices 8th ed. Hudson Hartmann, Dale Kester, Fred Davies, Jr. and Robert Geneve

17