Title: Propagate plants.
Course: Floriculture (18052-II) > Section: Applying Science to Plant Production

Propagation should include

- sexual reproduction of plants
- seed harvesting and storage
- pretreatments (e.g., stratification, scarification, pelleted, coated)
- identification of substrate, light, temperature, nutrient and water requirements
- identification of disease problems
- asexual reproduction of plants (e.g., stem, leaf, root)
- plants from runners
- consideration of micropropagation.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What are the differences between sexual and asexual plant propagation?
- How are new varieties and cultivars developed through hybridization?
- What are the cultural requirements for seed germination?
- How is seed safely stored?
- How do seed pretreatments affect seed germination?
- What are the desired characteristics of propagation substrates?
- How does temperature affect propagation?
- What are the water requirements of a propagation area? How can water be regulated?
- How do plant diseases affect the economics of plant propagation?
- How do growers determine whether to purchase plugs and/or cuttings or to produce their own seedlings and rooted cuttings?
- Under what circumstances is micropropagation economically and culturally advantageous?
- What are the costs associated with different methods of propagation?
- How does the location and time of year affect the method of propagation one should use?
- How are seeds stratified?