Enlist different vegetative propagation methods for fruit plants. Describe the different layering techniques employed for fruit plant propagation.

Vegetative Propagation Methods for Fruit Plants

Vegetative propagation methods are crucial for mass production of disease-free and genetically uniform fruit plants. Here's a breakdown of common techniques:

• Cuttings: This involves taking a portion of the plant (stem, root, or leaf) and inducing it to form roots and shoots. Stem cuttings are most common for fruit plants like grapes, raspberries, and apples. Root cuttings are used for gooseberries and currants. Leaf cuttings are less frequent but can be used for figs.
• Layering: Detailed below.
• Grafting: Joining two different plants so they grow as one. Scion (desired fruit variety) is joined to a rootstock (provides root system and vigor). Common for apples, pears, citrus, and stone fruits. Different grafting techniques include whip grafting, cleft grafting, and budding.
• Budding: A form of grafting where a single bud is used as the scion. T-budding is widely used for fruit trees.
• Division: Separating a plant into two or more parts, each with roots and shoots. Suitable for plants like strawberries and raspberries.
• Tissue Culture (Micropropagation): A modern technique involving the growth of plant cells, tissues, or organs in a sterile environment. It allows for rapid multiplication of plants and the production of disease-free clones. Used extensively for banana and strawberry propagation.

Layering Techniques for Fruit Plant Propagation

Layering is a method of vegetative propagation where a stem is induced to form roots while still attached to the parent plant. This allows for easier root development and higher success rates compared to cuttings. Here's a breakdown of different layering techniques:

1. Simple Layering

This is the most common and straightforward layering method. A flexible stem is bent down and covered with soil, encouraging root formation at the buried node. Suitable for plants like raspberries, blackberries, and grapes.

• Process: A long, flexible stem is bent towards the ground. A portion of the stem is buried in the soil, and the exposed tip is kept above the ground. The buried portion develops roots.
• Advantages: Easy to perform, high success rate.
• Disadvantages: Limited to plants with long, flexible stems.

2. Tip Layering

In this technique, the tip of a stem is buried in the soil to induce root formation. It is particularly effective for plants that readily form roots from their tips, such as gooseberries and currants.

• Process: The terminal bud of a stem is buried in soil, while the rest of the stem remains attached to the parent plant.
• Advantages: Simple and effective for plants that readily root from their tips.
• Disadvantages: Limited applicability.

3. Mound Layering

This method involves piling soil around a stem to encourage root formation at several nodes. It's useful for plants with thick, rigid stems that are difficult to bend.

• Process: Soil is mounded around the lower portion of a stem, covering several nodes. These nodes develop roots.
• Advantages: Suitable for plants with rigid stems.
• Disadvantages: Requires a significant amount of soil.

4. Air Layering (Marcotting)

This technique involves inducing roots to form on a stem while it's still attached to the parent plant. It's commonly used for fruit trees like mango and citrus.

• Process: A ring of bark is removed from the stem, and the exposed area is wrapped with moist sphagnum moss and then covered with plastic wrap. Root formation is stimulated in the absence of bark.
• Advantages: Can be used on plants with rigid stems, allows for propagation of mature plants.
• Disadvantages: More complex than other layering methods, requires careful monitoring.

Layering Technique	Suitable Plants	Complexity	Success Rate
Simple Layering	Raspberries, Grapes	Low	High
Tip Layering	Gooseberries, Currants	Low	Moderate
Mound Layering	Apple, Pear	Moderate	Moderate
Air Layering	Mango, Citrus	High	High