Question

Explain artificial methods of propagation in plants.

Answer 1

Artificial methods of propagation in plants are:

1. Use of special vegetative parts: Specialised vegetative parts like root tubers in Sweet potato, corm in Crocus, a bulb in garlic, rhizome in Banana, stem tuber in Potato etc., are used for vegetative propagation of the plants.
2. Cuttings: It is the use of small parts of plants for propagation. For example, root cuttings are used for propagation of Blackberry and stem cuttings are used for Rose.
3. Layering: In this method, the middle part of the soft and basal branch is defoliated (i.e. leaves are removed), slightly injured by ringing or notching and then pegged in the soil to develop adventitious roots. Later the branch is separated and planted. For example, in Cherry.
4. Grafting: In this method, parts of two plants are joined in such a way that they grow as one plant. The part of the plant which is taken is called scion and the plant to which it is joined is called stock. Grafting is done in apples, mangoes, plum, peach etc.