Artificial propagation in plants refers to the human-directed methods used to produce new plants from a single parent plant. These techniques are used to rapidly produce plants with desirable traits. There are two main types:
1. Cutting:
- Description: A portion of a plant (stem, leaf, or root) is cut and placed in suitable conditions to grow roots and form a new plant.
- Example: Stem cuttings of rose or jasmine plants.
2. Grafting:
- Description: A piece of one plant (the scion) is attached to the stem or root of another plant (the rootstock) to combine their strengths. The scion grows into a new plant using the rootstockâs roots.
- Example: Grafting a fruit-bearing variety onto a hardy rootstock (e.g., grafting apple varieties).
3. Layering:
- Description: A stem or branch of a plant is bent to the ground, covered with soil, and allowed to develop roots while still attached to the parent plant.
- Example: Air layering in fig or jasmine plants.
4. Micropropagation (Tissue Culture):
- Description: Plant cells or tissues are cultured in a sterile environment to produce new plants. It allows for the rapid multiplication of plants and can help produce disease-free plants.
- Example: Producing multiple banana plants from a single tissue sample.
5. Division:
- Description: The plant is split into multiple parts, each with roots and shoots, which grow into independent plants.
- Example: Dividing a clump of daffodils or daylilies into separate sections.
6. Separation:
- Description: A plant that naturally produces offsets or new shoots is separated to create new plants.
- Example: Separating the offsets of a spider plant.