Agricultural studio

If you are studying BSc Agriculture or preparing for competitive exams like ICAR, JRF, or state agriculture exams, Plant Propagation is a very important topic. Questions are often direct and factual. In fact, Plant Propagation in Horticulture is one of the most scoring areas in fruit science and nursery management.

Let us understand it in a very simple way.

What is Plant Propagation?

Plant propagation simply means multiplication of plants.
In easy words, it is the process of producing new plants from existing plants.

For example:

• When a farmer sows wheat seeds in his field → that is propagation.
• When a nursery prepares mango plants by grafting → that is also propagation.

So basically, we increase plant population either by seeds or by plant parts.

In practical farming and nursery work, this process is known as Plant Propagation in Horticulture, especially when we deal with fruit, vegetable, and ornamental crops.

Classification of Plant Propagation

Plant propagation is divided into two main types:

1. Sexual Propagation
2. Asexual (Vegetative) Propagation

Both methods are widely used in Plant Propagation in Horticulture, depending on crop and purpose.

Let us understand both one by one.

(A) Sexual Propagation

What is Sexual Propagation

Sexual propagation means multiplication of plants through seeds.
When pollination and fertilization take place, seeds are formed. These seeds grow into new plants.

Example: Wheat, Paddy, Mustard, Many forest trees

Special Terms in Sexual Propagation

1. Polyembryony

When more than one embryo develops inside a single seed, it is called polyembryony.

Example: Citrus (like orange and lemon)

2. Vivipary

When seeds start germinating while still attached to the parent plant.

Example: Mangroves

Advantages of Sexual Propagation

• Plants are long-lived
• Strong root system
• More resistant to diseases
• Seeds are easy to store and transport
• Helps in developing new varieties
• Creates genetic diversity (important in plant breeding)

Disadvantages of Sexual Propagation

• Chances of seed-borne diseases
• Plants take longer time to bear fruits
• Variation occurs (not true to type)

That is why seed propagation is limited in commercial fruit production under Plant Propagation in Horticulture.

(B) Asexual (Vegetative) Propagation

In this method, new plants are produced from vegetative parts like stem, root, or leaf.

No seed is involved.

Two types:

• [I] In vivo – done in field or nursery
• [II] In vitro – done in laboratory (tissue culture)

What is In–Vivo Methods (Field Methods)

Main methods:

1. Cutting
2. Budding
3. Grafting
4. Layering

Let us study each clearly.

1. Cutting

Cutting means using a part of a plant and planting it to produce a new plant.

(i) Stem Cutting

A part of stem is used.

Types of Stem Cutting

1. Hard Wood Cutting

• One-year-old mature shoot
• Length: 10–45 cm
• At least 2–3 buds
• Taken during November–December

Examples: Grape, Pomegranate, Mulberry, Rose, Fig

2. Semi-Hard Wood Cutting

• 4–9 months old shoots
• Length: 7–20 cm
• 2–4 leaves kept
• Pencil thickness
• IBA treatment: 5000 ppm for better root formation

Examples: Mango, Guava, Aonla, Lemon, Jackfruit

3. Soft Wood Cutting

• 3–5 months old shoots
• 3–20 cm length
• 2–4 buds
• Mostly used in ornamental plants

Example: Tea

4. Herbaceous Cutting

• 1–2 months old shoots
• Mostly ornamental plants

Examples: Coleus, Alternanthera, Pilea

Suitable Temperature for Cuttings

• Day: 21–27°C
• Night: 15°C

(ii) Root Cutting

Root pieces are used.
Root pieces of about 40 cm are planted.

Example: Sweet potato

(iii) Leaf Cutting

• Leaf is used for propagation.
• Mostly ornamental plants.

2. Budding

Budding means joining a single bud (scion) to a rootstock.
After union, they grow as one plant.

Budding is widely practiced in Plant Propagation in Horticulture for fruit crops.

Important Terms

• Scion – Bud used for propagation
• Rootstock – Plant on which bud is attached
• Union point – Place where both join

Methods of Budding

(i) Shield Budding / T-Budding

• Rootstock: 1 year old
• Done 20–30 cm above ground
• Bud length: 2.5–3 cm

Examples: Rose, Apple, Pear, Peach, Apricot

(ii) Patch Budding

• Square-shaped bark patch
• Used in thick bark plants

Examples: Mango, Aonla, Jamun, Bael, Cashew

(iii) Forkert Budding

Used in: Rubber

(iv) Ring Budding

Examples: Ber, Peach, Mulberry

(v) Chip Budding

Also important for temperate fruits.

3. Grafting

Grafting means joining a scion stick (with more than one bud) to a rootstock.

They unite and grow as a single plant. It is one of the most important techniques under Plant Propagation in Horticulture, especially for mango, guava, apple, and sapota.

Types of Grafting

(i) Epicotyl / Stone Grafting

• Seedling: 15–20 days old
• Scion: 2 months old
• Leaves removed 10 days before grafting
• Time: June–July

Examples: Mango, Cashew

👉Used for rapid multiplication.
👉In many Indian mango nurseries, stone grafting is very common.

(ii) Veneer Grafting

• Rootstock: 1 year old
• Scion: 10–15 cm, pencil thickness
• Time: May–September

Common in North India for mango.

(iii) Inarching / Approach Grafting

Scion remains attached to the mother plant until the union completes.

Examples: Sapota, Mango (South India)

(iv) Wedge Grafting

Used in:Guava
When grafting is done on top in wedge shape.

(v) Tongue Grafting

Modification of whip grafting.

Examples: Apple, Pear, Walnut

(vi) Whip Grafting

One-year-old rootstock

Examples: Apple, Pear, Walnut

(vii) Double Grafting

Used when scion and rootstock are not compatible.
An interstock is placed between them.

(viii) Bridge Grafting

Used to repair damaged trees (not for multiplication).

4. Layering

Layering means inducing roots on a shoot while it is still attached to the mother plant.

After roots form, it is separated.

Types of Layering

(i) Simple Layering

One-year-old shoot

Examples: Guava, Hazelnut

(ii) Serpentine Layering

Used in: Grape

Branch is buried at nodes, some parts remain exposed.

(iii) Mound Layering (Stooling)

Example: Guava

(iv) Tip Layering

Examples: Blackberry, Raspberry

(v) Air Layering

Indian name: Gootee
Chinese name: Marcottage

• One-year-old pencil-thick shoot
• Girdling: 2.5–3 cm
• Done in July–August
• IBA: 3000–5000 ppm

Examples: Litchi, Guava, Lime, Jackfruit, Cashew

In Bihar and West Bengal, litchi is commonly propagated through air layering.

(vi) Trench Layering

Examples: Apple, Pear, Cherry

Base is covered with 5–10 cm soil.

A detailed comparison of these methods is explained in our article on Difference Between Cutting, Budding, Grafting and Layering.

Natural Vegetative Propagation

Some plants propagate naturally

• Runner: Strawberry
• Sucker: Date palm, Pineapple
• Stolon: Mint, Bermuda grass
• Bulb – Onion, Garlic
• Corm – Gladiolus
• Rhizome – Ginger, Turmeric
• Tuber – Potato

What is In–Vitro Propagation (Tissue Culture)

• It is the modern method of Plant Propagation in Horticulture for rapid and disease-free multiplication
• Also called Micropropagation.
• Done in laboratory.
• Export-quality planting material

Example: Banana tissue culture plants are widely used in India for uniform yield.

Final Conclusion

Plant propagation is the backbone of agriculture and horticulture.

• If we want new varieties → Sexual propagation
• If we want true-to-type plants → Asexual propagation
• For large-scale, disease-free plants → Tissue culture

Understanding the practical applications of Plant Propagation in Horticulture makes this topic easy and highly scoring for exams.