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Agricultural and horticultural sciences are essential to our existence, since they provide the most basic need of food. Generally, qualitative and quantitative food can only be produced from healthy plants, which can only be started from healthy seedlings or saplings. A diverse edapho-climatic condition offers the opportunity to plant different species in India. A number of orchard trees have typically been planted in kitchen gardens and on fields, which is a well-established method for obtaining quality planting materials. Consequently, the requirement for high quality planting materials in India varies and also is perpetual because of the varied edapho-climatic conditions. 

History of plant propagation The propagation of plants is one of the absolutely necessary occupations of human beings since time immemorial. Civilization might have started when ancient man learned to plant and grow different kinds of plants, which fulfilled the nutritional and other allied needs of human beings and their animals. Cultivated plants commenced mainly by direct selection from wild species (e,g., lima bean, barley, tomato, and rice), hybridization between species, accompanied by changes in chromosome number (e,g., strawberry, pear, and prunes), and a group of plants occurs naturally as rare monstrosities (e,g., cabbage, broccoli, and brussel’s sprouts).

Introduction Apomixis is a phenomenon in which there is development of seed without fertilization or sexual fusion. Embryo develops without fertilization in apomixis. Hence, apomixis is an asexual means of reproduction therefore the genotype of plant will be same as of mother plant. Apomixis was first time discovered by Leuwenhock in 1719 in citrus whereas the term apomixis was first time used by Winker in 1908.The main benefit of apomixis over sexual reproduction is the selection of individual plant with superior characters and propagation of clonally through seeds. Higher plants commonly exhibit apomixis. There are more than 300 species belonging to 35 families that exhibit apomixis. Most commonly, it occurs in Gramineae, Compositae, Rosaceae, and Rutaceae.

“The light of unconditional love awakens the dormant seed potential of the soul helping them ripen, blossom and bear fruit, allowing us to bring the unique gifts that are ours to offer in this life” –John Wehwood Introduction In nature and in humans, seeds are vehicles for spreading new life from place to place. In plants, it refers to the unit of dispersal that survives between seed maturation and its establishment as a seedling. A seed, like a fortress, protects and sustains life as they are well-stocked with special food supplies to endure long sieges. There are many things that seeds are, but above all else, they are the means of survival of their species. It is a way of suspending embryonic development and then resuming it years later after the parents have passed away.

Seed quality is the possession of seed that is genetically pure and physically homogeneous, coupled with health and wellness. A seed is the first genetic material that becomes the basis for future agriculture and seeds are the basic building blocks of agriculture. A great deal of farming has been modernized by technology, but without a regular and steady supply of high quality seed, yields would be drastically reduced and crop quality would decrease as well. The production of horticultural and agronomic crops depends largely on quality seed. For farmers, seed characteristics such as genetic purity, germination percentage, vigor, and appearance have a significant effect on yield. Every professional seed producer strives to achieve and maintain high seed quality.

Introduction Multiplication of plants is termed as propagation. Nowadays, propagation practice has been totally modernized. Propagation practices have advanced from field to in-vitro. Starting from scion stick of 15 to 20 cm length, the plants are multiplied even using cell, tissue and embryo. In modern horticulture trade, plant propagation is a soaring business. It is highly profitable, employment generative, recreative and creative business. Several improvements have been noticed over the period of time in the basic techniques of plant propagation, using either conventional or tissue culture approaches. The propagation under protected environment by creating artificial conditions such as light, temperature and humidity under controlled irrigation through drip irrigation and fertigation has enhanced the potential of plant propagation and has made it possible to propagate the plants around the year.

Introduction The term plant growth regulator (PGR) generally refers to organic compounds other than nutrients that influence plant growth and development at low concentrations. According to practical definitions, plant growth regulators are either natural or synthetic compounds applied directly to plants to alter their life processes or their structure in order to improve quality, increase yields, or to facilitate harvesting. The term plant hormone, when correctly used is restricted to naturally occurring plant substances. This fall into five classes: auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, inhibitors and ethylene (gas). Plant growth regulators include synthetic and naturally occurring hormones.

Introduction Among the various propagation techniques, plant propagation through tissue culture has gained immense importance over the years and for a few crops it has become the major method of propagation. Plant tissue culture can be defined as the ability to grow and maintain the plant organs viz., embryo, shoot, root, anther, flower and their respective tissue in a culture media. While micropropagation can be defined as the development of a new plant using plant tissue culture techniques. These plants are grown under in-vitro conditions, i.e., culturing the plant in a vessel (e.g., test tube) under a controlled condition. Since, the whole process is a lab-based work, there are chances of contamination, thus, the growing condition needs to be aseptic (growing without microbial contamination).

Introduction After the green revolution, India achieved significant strides in agricultural output, but productivity is still poor owing to climate change and the interference of old agriculture techniques. In order to fulfill the world’s food demand in 2050, global output will have to grow by 70 % (FAO, 2020). Man has devised technical techniques for growing crops round the year. Crop propagation is a natural process that is enhanced via the use of modified and regulated settings. These conditions are altered to guarantee that the crop in question grows to its full potential. The purpose of propagation structures is to build environments that can be changed and controlled.

A nursery is a place, where seedling, saplings, trees, shrubs and other plant materials are raised and sold out for planting in gardens and orchards. The prerequisites of a successful and remunerative fruit production are the availability of true-type, healthy and good quality planting materials. Nursery is, therefore, a place where one can produce true to type plants by gaining technical skill, maintaining plants property and by careful planning. Like orchard establishment, establishment of a nursery is also at permanent venture and any mistake made initially can’t be rectified easily in the later stages. Therefore, for establishing a nursery, due care in selection of site, plants to be raised and transportation facilitation etc. must be given.

Nurserymen and propagators propagate different types of horticulture plants with seeds, cuttings, and other methods. Regardless of the medium used, an ideal medium should have the following characteristics: The medium should be sufficient firm and dense to told seed or cutting or layer firmly in place during germination or rooting. The volume of the medium should remain constant upon drying or wetting. This medium should be able to hold and deliver an adequate amount of moisture to the seeds, cuttings or layers.

Introduction Management is the process of successfully accomplishing tasks with and through others. It is all about having more control and getting better results as a result of having more control. Many parts of nursery administration are unrelated to horticulture in any way. Nurseries, both wholesale and retail, are frequently managed by persons who have worked in a range of sectors. Nutrient management, disease control, irrigation management, insect pest management, and marketing management are just a few of the nursery management techniques that are necessary for a successful nursery output. A nursery manager and employees who spend a lot of time for potting plants, weeding plants, or conversing with clients may discover that they do not spend enough time for managing the nursery, resulting in a loss of control. Many activities are carried out during management, such as planning - need for planting material, provision of mother blocks, land area requirements, water supply, working equipment, growth structures, and input availability. Implementation - land treatment, biotic interference and soil erosion prevention, correct layout, input supply, and so forth. However, in a small nursery where several jobs are required, the manager must strike a delicate balance between the numerous responsibilities. Managers who are well informed can provide good management; thus, the first duty of every manager is to become knowledgeable about the company for which they are responsible.

Introduction Nursery is an art of raising and selling seedlings, saplings, and other planting materials for use in gardens and orchards. The availability of true to type, healthy and high quality planting materials is a must for a successful and profitable fruit production. “Scion block” refers to trees planted to provide scion wood for propagating nursery stock, whereas “seed block” refers to the planting of registered seed trees that will provide seeding rootstock for propagating certified nursery stock. It consists of planting self-rooted mother trees/mother stools with the objective of providing vegetatively propagated (clonal) rootstock for the multiplication of certified nursery stock.

1. Determination of qualitative nursery planting materials 1.1 Quality assessment of seedlings Nursery is a place where young/infant seedlings are kept under intensive care until they are ready for planting. The production of quality seedlings begins with the collection of quality seed, nursery establishment, and after-germination maintenance. The quality of plant propagation structures may not be a qualitatively gradable criterion, but it can be indirectly assessed by their relationship to growth, productivity, and vigour. The Dickson Quality Index (DQI) is very useful for assessing the quality of a specific group of seedlings. This is done by selecting some seedlings at random from that group and computing Dickson Quality Index (DQI).

The main purpose of establishing a nursery is to supply plants whether to one’s own garden or to out station indentors to fetch good income. To obtain adequate returns on the investment made by a nurseryman, one should have fair idea about lifting, packing and storage of the nursery plants. Lifting of nursery plants The plants grown in the nursery are to be lifted for establishment at their permanent place or for sale purpose. The careless lifting may affect adversely the establishment of nursery plants. For getting higher rate of success of evergreen plants in the field, it is always advisable to lift the saplings with a ball of earth intact particularly for mango, guava, citrus and litchi etc. However, the deciduous plants like peach, grape, apple, kiwi fruit, hazelnut, pecan nut, cherry, almond, walnut etc. can be lifted bare rooted during dormant conditions. If possible, it is advisable to irrigate the nursery 3-4 days before the actual date of removing the plants in order to prevent root damage. 

Introduction The nursery is an area where tender seedlings are raised and conditioned before planting out in transplant beds or directly in the field. The increasing demand for quality planting material has up stepped the nursery business in many countries. The sophisticated technology, research and novel production approaches has transformed the traditional horticultural nursery to a technology intensive business. The tools and accessories associated with nursery production helps in aiding productivity of the nursery. The colour-coded and labelled plant materials, textured pots etc. are fascinating to consumers, indirectly increasing the salability of the plants and profitability of the enterprise. 

Introduction The nurseryman needs some records if he is going to plan for remunerative returns and establish himself as a reputable business. Ideally, a nursery planner should be able to estimate how long it takes to lift saplings or how much seed is required, or how many cuttings he can accommodate in a glasshouse, as well as how much scion wood is required for grafting a particular plot. In nurseries, specific registers must be maintained to keep track of day-to-day activities, such as pedigrees and operations. In case of large nurseries, these records are required by law to satisfy inspection authorities, calculate taxes, detect theft, or discourage it.