207-111 Plant Propagation

202-103 Biology for Land and Food

This subject introduces the theory and practice of contemporary propagation systems and techniques for horticultural plants. On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• explain the theory underlying the sexual and asexual propagation of plants;

• describe and demonstrate the propagation of horticultural plants from sexual and asexual techniques;

• describe critical characteristics of the propagation environment in field, greenhouse and in vitro propagation systems; and

• design and development of growing media for the propagation and production of container plants.

Topics include:

• sexual propagation from spore and seed and asexual propagation from cuttings, grafting, layering and division;

• the propagation environment - including field, greenhouse and in vitro (micropropagation) systems; and

• design and use of growing media for container plant production.

Report on group project (1000 words, 20%), reports on practical tasks (equivalent to a total of 2000 words, 40%), 2-hour examination (40%).

• Handreck, K. and Black, N. 2002, Growing Media for ornamental plants and turf. 3rd ed, NSW University Press. Kensington, NSW.
• Hartmann, H.T., Kester, D.E., Davies, F.T. and Geneve, R.L. 2002, Plant propagation: principles and practices. 7th ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River.