Sexual propagation (seed)[edit]
Further information: germination
Seeds and spores can be used for reproduction (through e.g. sowing). Seeds are typically produced from sexual reproduction within a species, because genetic recombination has occurred. A plant grown from seeds may have different characteristics from its parents. Some species produce seeds that require special conditions to germinate, such as cold treatment. The seeds of many Australian plants and plants from southern Africa and the American west require smoke or fire to germinate. Some plant species, including many trees do not produce seeds until they reach maturity, which may take many years. Seeds can be difficult to acquire and some plants do not produce seed at all. Some plants (like certain[1] F1/F2 hybrids and GMO plants) may produce seed, but not fertile seed.[2] In certain cases (like with GMO's), this is done to prevent the accidental spreading of these plants (which are generally non-native crops), for example by birds and other animals.
Asexual propagation[edit]
Plants have a number of mechanisms for asexual or vegetative reproduction. Some of these have been taken advantage of by horticulturists and gardeners to multiply or clone plants rapidly. People also use methods that plants do not use, such as tissue culture and grafting. Plants are produced using material from a single parent and as such there is no exchange of genetic material, therefore vegetative propagation methods almost always produce plants that are identical to the parent. Vegetative reproduction uses plants parts such as roots, stems and leaves. In some plants seeds can be produced without fertilization and the seeds contain only the genetic material of the parent plant. Therefore, propagation via asexual seeds or apomixis is asexual reproduction but not vegetative propagation.
Softwood stemcuttings rooting in a controlled environment
Techniques for vegetative propagation include:
Air or ground layering
Division
Grafting and bud grafting, widely used in fruit tree propagation
Micropropagation
Stolons or runners
Storage organs such as bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes
Striking or cuttings
Twin-scaling
Offsets