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What is Plant Cloning?

O. Parker
O. Parker

Plant cloning is a method of plant propagation. Cloning methods use a part of a mature plant to create a new, genetically identical plant. Common cloning methods include division of the root ball, rooted cuttings, and grafting. This method of plant reproduction has been used by horticulturists for thousands of years. Many plants use self-cloning as an additional method of reproduction, along with self-seeding.

Propagation by plant cloning creates a genetically identical plant because only a single parent plant is involved. In contrast, propagation from seeds creates genetically different offspring. When a seed is pollinated, genetic material from two parent plants, or two genetically different areas of the same plant, is combined. When the seed germinates, the resulting plant is similar but not identical to the parent plants.

Cherries are often propagated through grafting, a type of plant cloning.
Cherries are often propagated through grafting, a type of plant cloning.

Many woody shrubs and some herbaceous perennials are commonly propagated by stem cuttings. Depending on the time of year and the maturity of the plant used, the stem cutting may be called a softwood cutting, a hardwood cutting, a semi-hardwood cutting, or a herbaceous stem cutting. Some familiar plants that are commonly propagated from stem cuttings include roses, willows, azaleas, camellias, ivies, spruces, and hollies. Cloning plants using the stem cutting method is used as a reliable, and often fast, method of plant cloning for hybrid and common garden shrubs.

Banana plants create pups, which are small clones of the original plant.
Banana plants create pups, which are small clones of the original plant.

Propagation by grafting is commonly used when growing fruit trees. Many fruit trees do not reproduce identical, or even similar, fruits when planted from seeds. Though the seeds may come from delicious fruits, the resulting tree will likely produce fruits that are quite different in flavor, size, and texture. Common fruit trees that are propagated by grafting include apples, pears, cherries, peaches, plums, most citrus trees, and avocado trees.

Pear trees are are propagated by grafting.
Pear trees are are propagated by grafting.

Grafting is a method of plant cloning that joins the fruiting part of one tree onto the roots of another tree. A young tree, often grown from seed or cuttings, is used as a rootstock for a cutting from a tree that produces desirable fruit. If the graft takes, the resulting tree will have the roots of one tree and the branches and fruit of another tree. In order to be successful, most grafts are made with similar types of tree — apples grafted to apples, pears, and other similar fruits, while citrus trees are best grafted to other citrus trees, and avocados to other avocados.

Root division is a plant cloning method used to propagate herbaceous perennials and bulbs. In the fall or spring, the roots are dug up and divided into sections. When replanted, each section creates a new, genetically identical plant.

Avocados are grown by the grafting method of plant cloning.
Avocados are grown by the grafting method of plant cloning.

Bulb propagation create offsets, or small bulbs that develop from the main bulb. When dug up and replanted, the new plants are clones of the parent plant. Some plants, such as aloe, agave, and bananas, create offsets, or "pups," above ground near the base of the parent plant. These small clones can be dug up and replanted.

Plants clone themselves naturally all the time in the wild. Perennial plants send out underground or aboveground runners, for instance. Bulbs create offsets underground that increase the size of the plant colony as well. Additionally, cacti and some succulents can drop a leaf on the ground; as the leaf lays there, roots form and gradually grow into a clone of the parent plant. Likewise, a woody shrub or tree may drop a branch that lays on the ground and takes root.

Discussion Comments

Hazali

Another benefit of cloning is that it saves a lot of time for whatever it is you're trying to produce. For example, let's say that you're trying to produce a fruit that takes a long time to bud. After the fruit has finally grown, instead of planting more seeds, and waiting a few more years to see results, you can gather the original batch, and clone those. Though it's easier said than done, and while it might take some effort, cloning has a lot of advantages.

RoyalSpyder

Even though plants are alive (just as humans are), I think it's a lot easier to clone them than it is to clone us. Unlike humans, who can be rather complex and difficult to work with, when it comes to plants, all you have to do is go the source. Adding onto this, if the cloning becomes unstable, even if you were to lose the plant, it would be better than losing a life, such as that of a child.

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    • Cherries are often propagated through grafting, a type of plant cloning.
      By: Harris Shiffman
      Cherries are often propagated through grafting, a type of plant cloning.
    • Banana plants create pups, which are small clones of the original plant.
      By: tungphoto
      Banana plants create pups, which are small clones of the original plant.
    • Pear trees are are propagated by grafting.
      By: Olivier Tuffé
      Pear trees are are propagated by grafting.
    • Avocados are grown by the grafting method of plant cloning.
      By: oriori
      Avocados are grown by the grafting method of plant cloning.