Question

Name and describe the method of artificial vegetative propagation employed by gardeners and farmers for the following (i) Lemon, (ii) Litchi, (iii) Jasmine, (iv) China rose.

Answer 1

The process of growing many plants from one plant by man-made methods is called artificial propagation of plants. Artificial reproduction/propagation is the creation of a new life by other than the natural means available to an organism.

(i) Lemon: Lemon is propagated by tip cutting. Tip cuttings create a new plant with a distinct root system and the same traits as the parent plant, using the growing tip of a stem from an adult plant. This type of cutting is taken from actively growing stems that have recently begun hardening into woody stems.

(ii)Litchi: When the roots appear, the stem is cut below the level of roots and planted. This method is popularly called gootee which, is a vegetative method of plant propagation which involves the rooting of aerial stems while attached to the parent plant. This method of artificial vegetative propagation is widely used in Litchi.

(iii) Jasmine: Jasmine plant (Chameli) is propagated or produced by the layering method. In this method, a branch of the plant is pulled towards the ground and a part of it is covered with moist soil leaving the tip of the branch exposed above the ground. After some time, new roots develop from the part of the branch buried in the soil.

(iv) China rose: Hibiscus (China rose) is propagated or produced by the layering method. A branch of the plant is pulled towards the ground and a part of it is covered with moist soil leaving the tip of the branch exposed above the ground. When a branch touches the ground and produces adventitious roots.