Hallmarked as the most successful text of its kind, this remarkably thorough book covers all aspects or the propagation of plants--both sexual and asexual--with considerable attention given to human (vs. natural) efforts to increase plant numbers. The text presents both the art and science of propagation, and conveys knowledge of specific kinds of plants and the particular methods by which those plants must be propagated. New features of the seventh edition include: *In-depth text boxes separate more advanced topics or highlight specific key terminology. *User-friendly elements, such as chapter-opening objectives and a marginal glossary have been added to assist users in managing and digesting the vast amount of technical information presented in this course. *FREE glossary CD-ROM packaged with the text provides a valuable resource for learning the extensive new vocabulary of this course. Full-color photos and video clips help bring many of the terms to life. *Chapter 2 has been extensively revised to synthesize the revolutionary impact of biotechnology. The new chapter alerts readers to recent biotechnology advances, their impact on biological concepts and their impact on the practice of plant propagation and makes readers aware of the increasing promise and controversy this technology brings with it.

Table of Contents

I. GENERAL ASPECTS OF PLANT PROPAGATION. 1. How Plant Propagation Evolved in Human Society. 2. Biology of Plant Propagation. 3. The Propagation Environment. II. SEED PROPAGATION. 4. The Development of Seeds. 5. Principles and Practices of Seed Selection. 6. Techniques of Seed Production and Handling. 7. Principles of Propagation from Seeds. 8. Techniques of Propagation by Seed. III. VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION. 9. Principles of Propagation by Cuttings. 10. Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings. 11. Principles of Grafting and Budding. 12. Techniques of Grafting. 13. Techniques of Budding. 14. Layering and its Natural modifications. 15. Propagation by Specialized Stems and Roots. 16. Principles and Practices of Clonal Selection. IV. METHODS OF MICROPROPAGATION. 17. Principles of Tissue Culture and Micropropagation. 18. Techniques of Micropropagation. V. PROPAGATION OF SELECTED PLANTS. 19. Propagation Methods and Rootstocks for Fruit and Nut Species. 20. Propagation of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines. 21. Propagation of Selected Annuals and Herbaceous Perennials Used as Ornamentals.

Author Biography

Dale E. Kester is Professor of Pomology emeritus at the University of California, Davis. During his 40 years at the University of California he taught courses in plant propagation and pomology. He has been a member of the American Society of Horticultural Science, becoming a Fellow in 1977. He received jointly the Stark Award in 1980. He has published over 100 research and popular publications in plant propagation and pomology. He has had a lifelong collaboration with Dr. Hudson T. Hartmann which resulted in the publication of the first edition of Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices in 1959, followed by other editions in 1968, 1975, 1983, and 1990. One of the founders of the Western Region of the International Plant Propagators' Society (1960), he has served the society in various capacities including Vice-President, program chair (1996) and President (1997). He received the Curtis J. Alley Achievement Award in 1999. Fred T. Davies, Jr., Professor of Horticultural Sciences, and Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, has taught courses in plant propagation and nursery production and management since 1979. He has co-authored over 100 research and technical publications. He was a Fulbright Senior Fellow to Mexico (1993) and Peru (1999), and a J.S. Guggenheim Fellow (1999). He received the Distinguished Achievement Award for Nursery Crops from the American Society of Horticultural Sciences (1989), L.M. Ware Distinguished Research Award-ASHS-SR (1995), and S.B. Meadows Award of Merit-International Plant Propagator's Society-SR (1994). He is a recipient of the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching-TAMU (1997), Chancellor of Agriculture's Award in Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching-TAMU (1998), L.M. Ware Distinguished Teaching Award, ASHS-SR (1998), and L.C. Chadwick Educator's Award, American Nursery and Landscape Association (1999). He is the International Division Vice-President-ASHS. He was President, and is currently Editor, of the IPPS-SR. Robert L. Geneve is a Professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky. He teaches courses in plant propagation and seed biology. He has co-authored over 70 scientific and technical articles in seed biology, cutting propagation, and tissue culture. He is also the co-editor of the book Biotechnology of Ornamental Plants and author of A Book of Blue Flowers. He has served as a board member for the International Plant Propagators' Society-Eastern Region and serves on the Editor for the international horticulture journal, Scientia Horticulturae.