The Floriculture Of Asexual Propagation

Asexual propagation is plant reproduction using the vegetative parts of a plant. Leaves, stems, or roots might be used. Unlike sexual propagation, asexual propagation results in offspring that are the genetic duplicates, or clones of the parent plant.

Recombination of genes that would occur in sexual reproduction does not occur. Therefore, plants with outstanding characteristics can be produced without the risk of losing the desired characteristics, such as flower color or leaf variegation. Some plants are difficult to reproduce sexually. They may produce few seeds or the seeds they produce may result in low germination rates. Huge numbers of genetically identical plants (clones) can be produced. Plants can be grown that are free of diseases. Mature plants are obtained more rapidly as compared to seed.

Methods

There are many methods of propagating plants asexually. Some plants are easily propagated in a number of ways. Other plants respond best to a particular method. Cuttings, grafting, layering, separation, division, and tissue culture are types of asexual propagation methods.

Many plant varieties and cultivars are patented, much like an invention is patented. If they are propagated, a royalty is paid to the owner of the patent. Failure to do so is against the law. Some companies specialize in providing rooted cuttings and stock plants to growers. Chrysanthemums are a good example of a floriculture crop propagated by specialists. Most greenhouse growers buy rooted chrysanthemum cuttings and pot them up. The royalties are factored into the cost of the cuttings.

Herbaceous Cutting

One of the most common and simplest methods of asexual propagation is that of cuttings. Cuttings may be made from portions of stems, leaves, or roots. Most greenhouse crops are propagated by herbaceous or soft stem cuttings. Growers often keep stock plants or buy new stock plants each year from which stem cuttings are removed. The apical meristems of stock plants are pinched to encourage branching. Other types of herbaceous cuttings include leaf cuttings, leaf-petiole cuttings, and leaf-bud cuttings.

Once taken, cuttings are given optimal environmental conditions  floriculture to promote the regeneration of the missing plant organ or organs. Environmental conditions critical for successful rooting include proper temperature, high humidity and sufficient light The rooting media must be free of disease organisms. It should also have good water-holding ability and good aeration.

Rooting is a complex physiological process. The time it takes for the cuttings to root depends on many factors. The plant species or variety, the age of the plant, the type and location of the cutting, the absence or presence of leaves, and the nutritional status of the plant influence rooting.

Propagation by stem cuttings is the preferred method for poinsettias, chrysanthemums, zonal geraniums, kalanchoe, carnations, and many foliage plants. The cuttings, in length, are taken in the morning when the tissues are turgid or full of water. A sharp knife or razor is used for the cuts. It is also advisable to disinfect the knife between stock plants to avoid spreading disease. Any flowers on the stem should be removed.

The distal end of the cutting, or the end closest to the root system, is usually dipped in a rooting hormone to hasten the formation of adventitious roots. The cuttings are then placed in rooting cubes or directly into a medium. This practice of placing the cuttings is known as sticking cuttings.

After the cuttings are stuck, they are placed under an intermittent mist system. The mist is applied between dawn and sunset to reduce water loss from transpiration. They are misted regularly until the roots form and can absorb moisture for the plant. The propagation area is often shaded to reduce stress from the sun. Bottom heat is also provided to maintain a medium..

More and more growers use the practice of direct sticking cuttings into the finish container to save labor involved in transplanting. However, the grower must have enough bench space under mist and a means to keep the medium warm. Leaf Cuttings

A relatively small number of plants have the ability to produce plantlets on their leaves. Entire leaves or portions of a leaf are removed from the parent plant for use as leaf cuttings. Plants propagated by this method include African violet Mother-in-law's tongue Cape primrose and Rex begonia.

Propagation of Mother-in-law's tongue, Cape primrose, and Rex begonia involves the placement of a leaf blade or a portion of a leaf blade in a propagation medium. Healthy leaves that have just reached maturity should be used. Those leaves are at a stage when food production and the capacity to produce new plantlets are high.

African violets are easily propagated by leaf-petiole cuttings. The leaf blade and the petiole are taken from the parent plant. Under proper conditions, a cluster of plantlets develop where the petiole was cut. When the plantlets have grown large enough to handle, they are separated and potted in individual containers. A few plants, including the piggyback plant (ToInlea menziesii), kalanchoe, and the strawberry geranium, produce foliar embryos. Through a complex process, cells in small areas of a leaf develop into plantlets. The plantlets can be removed and planted.

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