Vegetative propagation course

Lesson 1 • Hormonal Control of Rooting

Explains auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin roles in root and shoot initiation. Provides the hormonal framework applied in rooting compound selection later.

Lesson 2 • Environmental Factors Affecting Propagation

Identifies how temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 influence propagule survival. Establishes environmental baselines referenced throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Overview of Propagation Methods

Surveys cutting, layering, division, grafting, and tissue culture as a taxonomy of techniques. Orients students to the full course scope before deep dives begin.

Lesson 4 • Plant Cell Biology Essentials

Covers totipotency, meristematic tissue, and cell division as the biological basis for propagation. Links cellular capacity directly to practical propagation success.

Lesson 1 • Common Media Components and Mixes

Evaluates perlite, vermiculite, peat, coir, bark, and sand as individual components and blends. Students formulate mixes matched to specific propagation scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Properties of Propagation Media

Analyzes aeration, water retention, pH, and sterility requirements for rooting substrates. Connects media properties to root initiation outcomes established in Chapter 1.

Lesson 3 • Propagation Structures and Equipment

Covers mist benches, cold frames, polytunnels, and heated propagation tables. Matches structure type to species requirements and production scale.

Lesson 4 • Sanitation and Biosecurity Protocols

Establishes disinfection routines for tools, benches, and media to prevent pathogen spread. Sanitation principles apply to every hands-on technique in the course.

Lesson 1 • Cutting Preparation Techniques

Demonstrates wound types, leaf reduction, and node positioning for maximum rooting response. Builds on hormonal and anatomical knowledge from Chapter 1.

Lesson 2 • Rooting Hormone Application

Covers powder, liquid, and gel formulations, concentration selection, and application methods. Applies the auxin principles from Chapter 1 to practical propagation.

Lesson 3 • Cutting Selection and Timing

Defines optimal shoot maturity, seasonal timing, and donor plant condition for each cutting type. Correct selection is the single greatest predictor of rooting success.

Lesson 4 • Insertion and Aftercare Management

Details insertion depth, spacing, labeling, and environmental management post-insertion. Integrates media and facility knowledge from Chapter 2 into cutting management.

Lesson 1 • Root Cutting Preparation and Storage

Details cutting length, storage conditions, and horizontal versus vertical insertion methods. Applies media and sanitation knowledge from Chapter 2.

Lesson 2 • Leaf Cutting Biology and Suitability

Identifies species and genera where leaf cuttings succeed and explains the regenerative anatomy involved. Connects to totipotency concepts from Chapter 1.

Lesson 3 • Root Cutting Principles and Species

Explains root polarity, optimal root diameter, and species that regenerate from root sections. Polarity knowledge is critical for correct insertion orientation.

Lesson 4 • Aftercare and Plantlet Development

Manages moisture, temperature, and light during the slow regeneration phase of leaf and root cuttings. Prepares students to recognize healthy versus failing propagules.

Lesson 1 • Air Layering Technique

Covers girdling, hormone application, sphagnum moss wrapping, and plastic sleeve sealing for air layers. Applies to species that cannot be ground-layered due to rigid stems.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Layering

Explains how wounding, girdling, and media contact stimulate adventitious rooting on attached stems. Connects to auxin accumulation principles from Chapter 1.

Lesson 3 • Simple and Compound Layering

Demonstrates tip, simple, and serpentine layering with correct pegging and soil coverage. These ground-based methods require minimal equipment and suit large-scale nurseries.

Lesson 4 • Crown, Clump, and Rhizome Division

Details timing, cutting tools, division size, and replanting depth for herbaceous perennials and grasses. Division is the fastest method for multiplying established clumping plants.

Lesson 1 • T-Budding and Chip Budding

Covers bud selection, T-cut preparation, chip removal, and bud insertion for field budding operations. Budding is faster and more material-efficient than most grafting methods.

Lesson 2 • Graft Aftercare and Union Evaluation

Manages humidity, shade, wrapping removal, and scion growth training after grafting. Systematic evaluation identifies failed unions early for re-grafting decisions.

Lesson 3 • Cleft, Whip, and Tongue Grafting

Demonstrates cut angles, cambium alignment, and wrapping for cleft, whip-and-tongue, and side grafts. These bench grafting methods suit dormant scion wood and young rootstocks.

Lesson 4 • Rootstock Selection and Preparation

Covers rootstock vigor classes, disease resistance traits, and preparation of the rootstock stem. Rootstock quality directly determines long-term graft performance.

Lesson 1 • Culture Media Formulation

Explains macro- and micronutrient salts, vitamins, carbon sources, and agar concentration in standard media. Media composition directly controls explant growth and differentiation.

Lesson 2 • Tissue Culture Laboratory Setup

Covers laminar flow bench operation, autoclave use, and aseptic technique fundamentals. A properly configured lab is the prerequisite for all subsequent tissue culture work.

Lesson 3 • Culture Stages: Establishment to Rooting

Covers Stage 1 establishment, Stage 2 multiplication, and Stage 3 rooting with hormone adjustments at each stage. Progressive hormone shifts drive the transition from shoot to rooted plantlet.

Lesson 4 • Acclimatization of Tissue Culture Plants

Manages the transition from agar to soil through controlled humidity reduction and light increases. Acclimatization failure is the primary cause of tissue culture plant loss post-lab.

Lesson 1 • Record Keeping and Data Systems

Establishes batch tracking, rooting percentage recording, and digital data entry for propagation operations. Accurate records enable the performance analysis covered in the next section.

Lesson 2 • Stock Plant Management

Covers stock plant nutrition, pruning, pest monitoring, and indexing for pathogen freedom. Healthy stock plants are the foundation of consistent propagule quality.

Lesson 3 • Continuous Improvement in Propagation

Applies root cause analysis, trial design, and performance benchmarking to improve propagation outcomes. Closes the course by connecting data from all chapters into an improvement cycle.

Lesson 4 • Quality Standards and Grading

Defines root system quality grades, shoot uniformity standards, and rejection criteria for finished liners. Grading standards align with commercial buyer specifications and plant health regulations.