Southeast Missouri State University
Department of Agriculture
Title of Course: Advanced Plant Propagation
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Course: HO321
New 2010
Course Description: Advanced Plant Propagation
Scientific theory and commercial practices of plant propagation by spore, seed, cuttings, layering, division, budding,
grafting, micropropagation and specialized structures. Two hours lecture; two hour laboratory (3).
Prerequisites: Plant Science (AO120), or Introduction to Horticulture (HO110), or concurrent enrollment.
Purposes or Objectives of the Course:
A. To understand the genetic, physiological and environmental factors which influence the success of sexual and
asexual propagation techniques.
B. To understand and be able to carry out the principal techniques of plant propagation. Students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate various techniques when requested.
2. Determine which techniques would be most applicable for a particular situation.
3. Discuss the biological principles underlying the techniques used.
C. To gain an understanding of the language of plant propagation.
D. To understand the cultural practices necessary to support successful propagation.
E. To be knowledgeable of all major methods and techniques of plant propagation.
F. To gain a thorough understanding of the subject and to be able to use what you know to solve problems and work
as a propagator.
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Expectations of Students:
A. Attendance: Missing and/or incomplete assignments will be discounted as follows:
One day late = 25% reduction in points
Two days late = 50% reduction in points
Three days late = Zero will be recorded for the assignment
B. Successful completion of all examinations and quizzes
C. Successful completion of all assignments and forum participation
Course Content or Outline:
A. Safety and handling of tools, equipment and chemicals used for plant propagation.
B. Describe propagation methods used in the commercial production of plants.
C. Design and record experiments to determine specific characteristics of seeds and cuttings to determine their
responses under controlled environmental conditions, and interpret experimental results to determine their
significance to commercial plant propagation.
D. Define and describe terminology and concepts related to seed production, including: species, variety, cultivated
variety, line, clone, meiosis, mitosis, genetic variation, heterozygous, homozygous, genotype, phenotype, F-1
hybrid, seed certification, and the various parts of flowers.
E. Explain why heterozygous plants are usually propagated by asexual methods.
F. Explain and evaluate the value of genetic diversity in horticulture, ecology, and society in general.
G. Define and describe terminology and concepts related to sexual plant propagation, including: stratification,
scarification, seed, spore, seed viability, seed type, artificial seeds, seed coat, endosperm, embryo, fertilization,
germination, emergence, and dormancy.
H. Define and describe terminology and concepts related to asexual plant propagation, including: cuttings, types of
cuttings, grafting, types of grafting, budding, types of budding, division, layering, clone, totipotency, adventitious
root formation, micropropagation, wounding, blanching, etiolation, cambium, callus, graft union, graft
incompatibility, scion, rootstock, dwarfism, interstock, meristem, explant, phytohormone, plant growth regulator,
rooting compound, clonal genetic variation, and chimera.
I. Identify and describe the stages of seed germination, and the factors that influence seed germination.
J. Identify and describe the stages of adventitious root formation, and the factors that influence adventitious root
formation.
K. Identify and describe the stages involved in the formation of graft unions, and the factors that influence the
development of graft unions.
L. Identify and describe the influence of environmental factors on seed formation and germination, adventitious root
formation, and development if graft unions.
M. Describe the various stages of micropropagation.
N. Identify, source, and price appropriate materials for the germination of seeds, the rooting of cuttings, or the
culture of plant parts in micropropagation.
O. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of various propagation methods.
P. Identify and describe the known plant phytohormones, and their roles in the propagation of plants.
Q. Identify and explain the timing when newly propagated plants are ready to be transplanted.
R. Identify and explain the use of equipment, materials and systems used for plant propagation.
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Readings and Related Resources:
A. Beyl, Caula A. and Robert N. Trigiano, eds. 2008. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL
33487. ISBN 1-4200-6508-4; 13: 978-1-4200-6508-4 (hardcover).
B. Selected class handouts provided by the instructor.
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Basis for Student Evaluation:
Grades will be based on the following:
One One-Hour Exam .......................................................................................... 15 percent
Eight Unscheduled Quizzes ................................................................................ 40 percent
Four Homework Assignments ........................................................................... 20 percent
Classroom and Forum Participation Points ....................................................... 10 percent
One Two-Hour Final Exam (comprehensive) .................................................... 15 percent
Total ................................................................................................... 100 percent
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B
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90 to 100 percent
80 to 89 percent
70 to 79 percent
60 to 69 percent
Below 60 percent
Exams:
Exams and quizzes will be based on content presented during the course, textbook reading assignments, handouts,
and various other sources of material used in the class as required.
Academic honesty
The Undergraduate Bulletin defines academic dishonesty as “...those acts which would deceive, cheat, or defraud so
as to promote one’s scholastic record...,” and states that “violations of academic honesty represent a serious breech
of discipline and may be considered grounds for disciplinary action, including dismissal from the university.” You
are expected to understand and abide by this rule. Any academic dishonesty, including any form of cheating
including plagiarism will not be tolerated and the individual will be referred to judicial affairs.
 The official statement about academic honesty, including plagiarism, may be accessed at:
http://www.semo.edu/bulleting/pdf/2006Bulletin.pdf
 Additional information may be accessed at:
http://www6.semo.edu/judaffairs/
Civility and Harassment
A major determinant of a successful educational experience is a shared sense of respect among and between the
students and their instructor. In this class we will maintain a climate of mutual respect and orderly conduct. Judicial
Affairs is responsible for addressing such matters and that information is available at:
http://www6.semo.edu/judaffairs/
Disabilities
Diversity in all its forms merit the respect of the faculty, and this applies equally to students with disabilities.
Students may obtain official information about disabilities from Learning Assistance and Disability Support
Services, located at: http://www.semo.edu/cs/services/lec.htm
Attendance and Work Ethic
You are expected to be in class, punctually, for the entire duration of the class, each time the class is held. The
official statement about attendance, derived from the Undergraduate Bulletin, may be accessed at:
http://www.semo.edu/bulletin/pdf/2006Bulletin.pdf
As a member of the class the expectation is that you will be an engaged, involved, positive force in the learning
experience. As an active participant in discussion, please have all assigned work fully completed and remitted on
time, your work should be performed to a level that is appropriate for a university student.