PLANT PROPAGATION

IN ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE
 OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the student must be able
to;

- understand what is the Plant

Propagation

- identify the different Types of Plant

Propagation,

- know the importance of this topics

Plant propagation is the process in which new plants can
grow from old ones through a variety of methods such as
collecting seeds, cuttings, or other parts of plants. These
propagations are applicable in many situations, from
home gardening to cloning plants or even creating
hybrids. There are two different kinds of propagations:
sexual and asexual. Sexual propagation involves the union
of pollen from a male plant with an egg from a female
plant and involves the floral parts of a plant (Plant
propagation). However, there are also several methods of
asexual propagation that can be easily done.
The use of plant propagation has become
increasingly more popular for medical plant
breeding. Due to the large amount of the world
that utilizes traditional medicine which includes
the use of medicinal plants it has become very
important to utilize the use of plant propagation.
There are two types of propagation,
1. Sexual Propagation
2. Asexual Propagation
Sexual propagation

Sexual propagation uses seeds to produce new plants.

Sexual propagation is relatively easy and often
requires no special equipment. It is nature’s way to
obtain many plants economically
Asexual propagation

It involves taking vegetative of a plant (stems, roots,

and/or leaves) and causing them to regenerate into a
new plant or, in some cases, several plants.
Collecting Seeds

Seeds can be collected from existing plants and saved

or used in other locations. A seed’s location within a
plant can vary from species to species, but in a lot of
cases for perennial and annual plants, the seeds are
ready to harvest after the plant has bloomed and
petals have fallen off (Hughes). There are also
extensive guides available on the internet on collecting
seeds from specific species of plants
Seed germination

Seed germination is a complex process that occurs

when a viable seed with proper internal conditions is
exposed to favorable environmental conditions.
Internal conditions that affect seed germination
include seed coat properties and dormancy.
Environmental factors that influence seed
germination include moisture, temperature, air
(oxygen) and, in certain cases, light.
Seed coat

Some species of plants produce seeds that are

nearly impervious to water. In nature, this
characteristic tends to preserve the longevity of
the seeds, but it also makes them less likely to
germinate immediately after being produced
Dormancy

Seeds of some species of plants contain abscisic acid, a

chemical that inhibits germination. For these species,
germination occurs after certain changes take place within
the seed in response to environmental conditions. In
nature, this period of adjustment, called after-ripening,
prevents fall-produced seeds from germinating until the
following spring when conditions (especially temperature)
are more conducive to the survival of newly emerged
seedlings
Moisture

Most seeds have low water content and require

moisture to initiate the physiological processes that
lead to embryo emergence. The nature of the seed
and its seed coat, as well as the availability of
moisture, greatly affects germination success. Species
vary in the amount of moisture needed to prompt
germination.
Temperature

Plants can be grouped according to how

temperature affects germination of their seeds:

Plants that germinate only at low temperatures.

Plants that germinate only at high temperatures.
Plants that germinate over a relatively wide range
of temperatures.
Air and oxygen

Seeds need air for germination. Seeds must respire to

remain viable, and oxygen is necessary for the
respiration process. Additionally, oxygen is involved in
the initial reactions that trigger germination. Heavy
soils that limit oxygen availability to seeds are
notorious for poor seed germination. Overwatering
after sowing seeds can also adversely affect
germination rate.
Light

Some seeds require light to germinate. Others require

darkness. This difference will affect planting depth
requirements. If small seeds were to germinate deep in
the soil, they would probably use up their stored
reserves and die before being able to emerge and start
photosynthesis.

Cabansag, Jessie Gwyn

Containers

Containers for starting seeds should be clean and

sturdy and must fit into the space available for
growing plants indoors. The proper container helps
get seedlings off to a good start and can save work.
Plastic trays, flats and pots are widely available for this
purpose and work well
Propagation media

The medium used for starting seeds should be loose,

porous and fine textured. Prepared propagation
blends are commercially available and usually contain
a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite.
Vermiculite alone provides for good seed
germination; the fine grade is best
Seedling care
After seeds germinate, the seedlings
must be given the best possible growing
conditions to ensure stocky, vigorous
plants for outdoor planting
Transplanting
Seedlings are ready to transplant when the first
"true" leaves expand. Don’t allow seedlings to grow
too large, as this can reduce transplant success. As
you prepare, make holes for the transplants in the
medium filling the new container.
The major methods of asexual
propagation are cuttings, layering,
division, budding and grafting.
Taking Cuttings

Cuttings can be taken from any part of the plant, but

most commonly a stem or leaf is used. Root
formation can be encouraged by placing the stem
into a container of water or moist soil. In this case,
the plant will be identical to the parent plant and
will have the same characteristics, while growing
something from seed doesn’t ensure the same
characteristics. Plant cuttings will also be able to
grow and mature faster than a plant grown from
seed
Layering

The layering technique of plant propagation is when

the new plant remains at least partially attached to
the mother plant while it forms new roots.
Grafting is a technique in which plant parts from
different plants are joined together to grow and
heal as one plant. This may be done when plants
don’t do well growing from cuttings or to use a root
system from one plant that may be better than the
other.
Budding can also be included in the grafting propagation
process and is when a mature bud of one plant is placed
into an incision on another plant’s stem. This is becoming
popular in fruit tree production and is usually done during
the late growing season (Wilson).
Division
Crown division, or division, is one of the best
ways to propagate herbaceous perennial
plants. Plants such as chrysanthemum,
daylily, peony and iris can be divided by this
simple, reliable method. Some woody shrubs
that branch or sucker from the base can also
be reproduced in this way
Plant propagation is important due to the following
reasons:

•Multiply the different species in large number.

•Protect the plant species which are endangered.
•Improve the characteristics and quality of the plants.
•Produce quality and healthy plants on commercial
base.
Personal Home and Garden:
Propagation can be done by anyone with a plant
and some water or soil! This method is used
extensively in personal gardens and community
gardens as a cost effective way to multiply plant
populations. It can also be done using a variety of
different indoor houseplants.
Restoration:
Along with personal use, plant propagation can be a
really important part of restoration projects and can be
especially important when trying to restore native
species of plants to a certain area. Propagations can be
taken from other local plants to be grown and planted in
an area that is being restored. An example of this is the
Crissy Field Restoration Project in San Francisco in which
seeds and clippings were taken from the surrounding
area to help restore the land from a United States
military airbase to a native wetland and marsh
environment.
Preventing Plant Extinction:
As mentioned before, saving seeds can keep certain
genes and species intact and prevent them from
disappearing altogether. A local example of this is the
Franscican Manzanita plant, thought to be extinct in
San Francisco (​​Rosenthal). One last plant was found in
the Presidio of the Golden Gate National Park
Boundary in San Francisco by a botanist who was
driving by and recognized it. Clippings were taken in
order to plant the species in other locations and
prevent its extinction
Here are some tips and tricks to ensure a healthy
propagation:
•Keep the environment wet or moist! New roots
need water to develop, if the water runs out, the
plant cannot begin its development.
•New cuttings can benefit from bright light but not
direct light.
•Typically sunlight is better to use rather than
artificial light as it isn’t able to completely mimic the
colors or wavelengths of natural light. However,
artificial light can be used to supplement sunlight
when there isn’t enough natural light for growth
(Volente).
•Normal potting soil can be too rich for new roots to
grow, so besides water, materials like peat moss,
vermiculite, perlite, or even sand can help new plants
thrive.
•There are many resources in San Francisco and even
at USF to help start your propagating journey. The San
Francisco Public Library along with Gleeson Library at
USF have seed libraries where you can take and
donate seeds for use. There is also a Green Thumb
student organization on campus that promotes plant
propagation and hosts propagation swaps throughout
the year.
 REFERENCES:

"Plant Propagation | MU Extension"

https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/mg3

"Plant Propagation Techniques and Benefits | Office

of Sustainability - Student Blog"
https://usfblogs.usfca.edu/sustainability/2021/11/17
/plant-propagation-techniques-and-benefits/