LECTURE FOUR

CUTTINGS

The process of propagation of plants by cuttings is known as cuttage. A cutting is a part of a plant that
will produce roots when put in soil media and eventually produce a new plant quite true to the parent
plant.

Advantages
Plants grown from cuttings are genetically identical to the parent plant.
Plants grown from cuttings often mature faster and flower sooner than plants grown from seed.
Propagation by cuttings is a quick and inexpensive method that doesn't require specialized skills.
Cuttings can be used to propagate sterile plants, such as navel oranges, or young trees that haven't
flowered yet.
Disadvantages
Not all plants can be propagated by cuttings. Some plants, like Eucalyptus, Acacia, and most
monocotyledons, don't readily form roots from cuttings.
Propagating by cuttings can lead to a lack of genetic diversity in the new plants.
New plants grown from cuttings may be more susceptible to disease and insects.

Types of cuttings
Cuttings are usually classified in to 3 groups according to the particular part of the plant used as cutting.
1) Stem cuttings 2) Root cuttings 3) Leaf cuttings Stem cutting:

A Stem cutting can be divided in to 4 types based on the degree of maturity and lignification of wood
used in making cuttings.
➢ Hard wood stem cuttings: These cuttings are made from the past seasons growth or wood that have
matured and lignified tissues (hardwood)
Preparation and planting: Fully matured shoot with normal internodes from a healthy, is selected and all
leaves removed without damaging the axillary buds. A slant is cut just below the basal node of the
selected shoot. Eg Hibiscus.
➢ Semi hard wood stems cuttings: Semi hard wood cuttings are prepared from new shoots just after a
flush of growth which is partially matured. Preparation and planting: Select partially matured shoots from
a healthy and vigorous growing plant and take out the terminal 7 to 15cm portion by giving a horizontal
cut just below a basal node. Remove all the leaves towards the base of the shoot and retain only the
terminal leaves. If the retained leaves are very large, reduce their size by cutting the top half portion. Eg
Lemon.

➢ Soft wood stem cuttings: Cuttings are prepared from the soft succulent new spring growth of species
which are 4 to 6 months old. Preparation and planting: Select the soft succulent shoots from a healthy and
vigorous growing plant, and take out the terminal 7 to 15cm portion by giving a horizontal cut just below
a basal node. Do not remove the leaves except for the part to be buried inside the rooting media. Eg.
Nerium, crotons, Cranthemum, Graftophyllum etc.
➢ Herbaceous stem cuttings: This type of cuttings is taken from succulent herbaceous green house
plants. Preparation and planting: Select the succulent herbaceous shoots from a healthy growing plant.
Retain all the leaves. Give a basal cut below a basal node. are planted. Eg. Cactus.

B. LEAF CUTTING: Certain plants with thick and fleshy leaves have the capacity to produce plantlets
on their leaves. Adventitious roots and shoots form at the base of the leaf and form in to a new plant.
Frequent watering and high humidity and bottom heating are desirable for better and rapid rooting of leaf
cuttings. Sand or sand and peat moss (1:1) are satisfactory rooting media for leaf cuttings.
leaf cuttings can be classified in to:
1. Leaf blade cutting: Preparation and planting: Select a healthy leaf and give a slanting cut towards the
base of the leaf. Eg. Sansevieria.
2. Leaf vein cutting / Leaf slashing: Preparation and planting: Select a healthy and full mature leaf and
detach it from the mother plant. Give cuts to alternate veins closer to the petiole on the lower surface of
the leaf. Keep the leaf flat on the medium in such a way that the lower portion comes in contact with the
medium. Pin or hold down the leaf in some manner so as to expose the upper surface and to maintain the
contact between the cuts on the vein and the rooting medium. Water the cuttings carefully Eg. Begonia
rex.
3. Leaf margin cutting: Preparation and planting: Select a mature and healthy leaf with the foliar
embryos intact. Keep the leaf flat on the rooting medium. If the leaf is folded, just cut along the mid rib,
so that the leaf can be kept flat on the medium. Keep some weight on the leaf or partially cover it with
soil, so that the margin comes in contact with the medium. Water the cuttings carefully Eg. Bryophyllum.

4. Leaf bud cutting: This cutting consists of a leaf blade, petiole and a short piece of the stem with
attached axillary bud. This is practiced in species that are able to initiate roots but not shoots from the
detached leaves. In such case the axillary bud at the base of the petiole provides for the essential shoot
formation.
Preparation and planting: Select a healthy and mature shoot with well-developed buds and healthy active
growing leaves. Separate each leaf along with the axillary bud and a small portion of the stem. Repeat the
process until possible number of leaf bud cuttings are made. Treat the cut surface of the prepared cuttings
with the recommended root promoting substance to stimulate rapid root formation. Insert the prepared
cutting in the rooting medium so that the bud is1.5 to 2.5 cm below the surface. Eg. Lemon.

C. Root cuttings

Plants which give rise root suckers freely are propagated by root cuttings eg ginger, cocoyam and
plantain.

LECTURE FIVE

Mist systems are an important part of vegetative propagation because they help plants retain moisture and
root. Mist systems deliver a fine mist of water to plant leaves and stems to prevent them from drying
out. The misting rate should match the rate of evaporation from the leaves.

Benefits
The mist film reduces the amount of water lost from the leaves. The evaporative cooling effect of the
mist keeps leaf temperatures down. The mist allows leafy cuttings to be exposed to more light, which
can speed up rooting. Mist systems can root larger cuttings that might not otherwise root.

Types of mist systems; In-line mist nozzles, inverted mist nozzles, irrigation booms, and fogging
nozzles.
How to control mist systems
Mist systems can be controlled manually or automatically using devices such as timers, mechanical
sensors, light-operated interval switches or controllers.

ROOTING MEDIA

Water: Can be used for easily rooting species. Its great disadvantage is the lack of aeration. Artificial
aeration promotes rooting and impedes rotting.

Sand: The sand used should be fine enough to retain some moisture around the cutting and coarse enough
to allow free draining. The sand should be washed and sterilized before use.

Soil: Well aerated sandy loam is preferable. Due to the possible presence of root-borne disease, soil may
need to be sterilized or treated with pesticides.

Peat moss: Used together with other materials in order to increase the water holding capacity.

Coconut husk: Widely used in humid tropical environments where it has the same use as peat moss.

Industrial manufactured material such as Vermiculite, Perlite and Pumice are used separately or in
combination with some other rooting media. Their advantage is their lightness, cleanness and high-water
holding capacity.

Others may include; composted softwood bark, composted hardwood bark, rice hulls, composted
sawdust, paper mill biosolids, composted wood fiber. These media can be amended with fertilizers or
mycorrhizae.

CARE OF CUTTINGS
Harvesting should be done early in the morning. Use sharp, clean tools to make clean cuts. Remove some
leaves and buds to reduce water loss, but leave some on so the cutting can make food. Wrap cut stems in
moist paper towels and place in a sealable plastic bag. Transport in a cooler. Place the cutting vertically in
a rooting mix. For herbaceous species with fleshy stems, select intermediate aged tissue. Avoid new
growth and tissue that is overly lignified or woody. For woody species, such as shrubs or trees, collect
shoot cuttings before woodiness develops.
Reduce opportunities for contamination by sterilizing cuttings in 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes
After bleaching, place in fresh sterilized water to maximize turgor pressure in cells. For plant where
cuttings is not possible, divisions of vegetative parts can be obtained. Division is a simple vegetative
propagation method used for plants like ginger, plantains and onion.

STORGAGE OF CUTTINGS

When storing cuttings for vegetative propagation, you should keep them in a cool, dark, and moist place
to prevent desiccation. Prevent cuttings from heat. Wrap cuttings in a moist paper towel to prevent