Propogation Paper, Final Draft

Plant Propagation is the process of planting seeds in which there are two different processes. Sexual propagating is the process where seeds are used for reproduction through sowing involving the floral parts of a plant. By drawing the genes of two parents, a third new individual is created. Uniting the pollen of the male with the egg of the female, a seed is produced. The advantage of sexual propagation is that it is usually cheaper and quicker than other methods. It is also the only way to obtain new varieties of certain species and a way to avoid transmission of certain diseases and helps maintain healthy genetic variation.

Asexual propagation may be easier and faster in some plant species and is the best way to maintain a species. The major methods of asexual propagation are cuttings, rooting a severed piece of the parent plant, layering, rooting a part of the parent plant and then severing it, division, plants with more than one rooted crown divided and planted separately, and grafting, joining two plant parts from different varieties. Also known as vegetative reproduction, gardeners have the ability to multiply and clone plants rapidly.

An important aspect of obtaining quality plants starts with the seed. The seed is made up of three components, the outer seed coat to protect the seed, the endosperm, containing the seeds food reserve, and the embryo, which is the plant itself. High quality seeds will not contain seed of any other crop, weeds, or other debris. Many fruits and vegetables come in hybrid varieties, which have more uniformity and have specific disease resistance characteristics, but tend to cost more than open pollinated types.

There are four essential components for successful germination: water, light, oxygen and heat. The water is the first step, and the amount of continuous supply of water is important to ensure germination. Once the seed has started to germinate, a sudden dry period will cause the embryo to dry out and kill the seed. Light is required to stimulate the germination of the seed. The medium in which the seeds are placed should be loose and in well-aerated soil so that is the oxygen supply isn’t limited or reduced, causing germination to be severely inhibited. Some seeds will germinate over a wide range of temperatures, whereas others require a narrow range. Maintaining proper temperatures to achieve maximum germination percentages is important.

Monsanto is a United States base corporation in the agricultural biotechnology business. As the producer of “Roundup,” they’re the world’s leading producer of herbicide glyphosate. Holding 90% of the market share of genetically engineered seeds, Monsanto is the leading producer for the commercial market, making it the world’s largest conventional seed company. The growth hormone and the marketing of genetically engineered seeds have made Monsanto the center of attention for many anti-globalization movements and environmental activists. Activists are worried about the unintended harm to other organisms. Monsanto has made over 112 lawsuits against farmers for claims of seed patent violations. Unfortunately for most farmers, they settle with Monsanto because they cannot afford a time consuming lawsuit.

With anything, Genetically Modified foods and organisms have its pros and cons. GM foods are crops created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in labs to enhance desired traits such as improved nutritional content and increased resistance to herbicides. The benefit to having GM’s crops is to enhance the taste and quality, increased nutrients and improves the resistance to disease and herbicides. They also lead to new products and growing techniques. This could be seen as a pro as well as a con. Pro in the sense that we are able to adapt and create new species and food products, and con because it encourages the use of herbicides that are not specific for weed species and kill native plants.

With the recent controversial studies about the effects of genetically modified corn pollen on monarch butterflies have brought the issue of genetic engineering to the attention of many. A lab study was published showing that the pollen from corn caused high mortality rates in monarch butterflies. Monarch caterpillars consume milkweed plants, not corn, but the fear is that the pollen from the corn is combining with the milkweed plants in neighboring farms and could potentially harm the monarch butterfly population. According to the FDA, there are over 40 pant varieties of GM crops that meet all federal requirements for commercialization. Genetically modified fruits and vegetables are available on produce stands, but are more likely to be in highly processed foods such as vegetable oils and breakfast cereals. In 2000, thirteen countries grew genetically engineered crops, with the United States producing the majority. Soybeans, corn, cotton and potatoes are the most widely grown crops and were modified for herbicide tolerance, and insect pest resistance.

Propagation is the key for successful gardening and planting. It is involved with the quality of our fruits and vegetables. The herbicides and pesticides we put in our food affect our overall health, and our future of fresh fruits and vegetables. If we contaminate all of our organic fruits and vegetables, we run the risk of not being able to reproduce them ever again. The importance of keeping our food organic is that if we have organic foods, we are in control of our food distribution. We employ farms and distributors. We rely less on other countries to provide food for America.




Annotated Bibliography:
"AZ Master Gardener Manual: Plant Propagation." College of Agriculture and Life Sciences homepage. 5 Oct. 2009 . This website explained in detail the differences between asexual propagation and sexual propagation.

"Seed Propagation: Landscaping: Home & Garden Television." HGTV - Decorating, Home Improvement, Landscaping Ideas, Kitchen and Bathroom Design: Home & Garden Television. 9 Oct. 2009.
This website focuses on how seeds are more efficient than starters. One reason being, they are a lot more cost effective, and they have a higher potential to grow plants that are larger in size. They have stronger roots, and are most likely live longer.

"PLANT PROPAGATION." HCS. 9 Oct. 2009. 9 <>.
This website talked about bringing plants and seeds from foreign country to another. This is how many serious insect and disease pests are introduced into different countries. A nonnative plant may become a noxious weed, and might affect the growth and reproduction of other plants.

"Saving Heirloom Seeds | Suite101.com." Vegetable Gardens: Heirloom vegetables, farmers markets, container, raised bed and community gardening, reviews of gardening tools, tips on fertilizers, irrigation, pest control and more. | Suite101.com. 12 Oct. 2009. Time isolation is where you time your plantings so that different varieties of the same plant don't flower at the same time, and won't pollinate each other. To keep your heirloom seeds pure, you should carefully plan your garden design and plant your vegetable garden with pollination needs in mind.

"Plant propagation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 5 Oct. 2009 . The differences between sexual and asexual propagation and what each of them is used for.

"Monsanto - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 14 Oct. 2009 . This website discussed Monsanto the corporation, and their involvement with the food industry. Also their involvement with legal issues.

"Genetically Modified food: Harmful or helpful? ." Discovery Guides. 10 Oct. 2009 . Focusing on the aspects of genetically modified foods, this website goes into detail about specific cases involving the negatives of GMO's.
"Plant Propagation by Stem Cuttings: Instructions for the Home Gardener." North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Home. 14 Oct. 2009 . This website focused on the process of stem cuttings and the process of asexual propagation.