Give an account of cutting and grafting as vegetative reproduction methods.

Answer:

1. Cutting: A part of the plant (stem, root or leaf) is cut and planted in moist soil, where it forms adventitious roots and shoots and grows into a new plant.

• Stem cuttings (about 20 to 30 cm with a few nodes) are commonly used, e.g. rose, sugarcane, Bougainvillea, Hibiscus, grapes.
• Root cuttings, e.g. lemon, tamarind; leaf cuttings, e.g. Bryophyllum, Sansevieria.
• Rooting hormones such as IBA or NAA are applied to speed up root formation.

2. Grafting: Parts of two plants are joined so that they grow as one plant. The rooted lower plant is the stock and the cut shoot (twig) of the desired variety is the scion.

• Slanting or V-shaped cuts are made so that the cambium of the scion is in contact with that of the stock; the joint is tied with tape or thread and covered with grafting wax.
• The cambia unite and the scion grows using water and minerals from the stock.
• Used for mango, apple, citrus, guava, etc. Types include tongue (whip), wedge, crown and approach grafting.

Both methods give plants genetically identical to the parent, so desirable characters are preserved.