Sixth Form students explore propagation as part of Biology topic

Sixth Form student Cassia Taylor has been busy propagating plants during lockdown as part of a cloning topic in Biology.

She explains the process as follows: “For the process of propagation by taking cuttings, I started with a golden pothos – Epipremnum aureum – which is a very durable plant, so it is ideal for cuttings as it adapts to its new environment readily.

“I started by using scissors to cut the stem of the initial plant just below a leaf joint at a 45º angle, then dipping the explant into some water and then around one to two inches into the rooting powder – which is largely comprised of the hormone auxin.

“The explant is then left to dry for a few hours before being placed into a bottle filled with water, where a root will begin to grow from a node on its stem down towards the water. At this point the plant can be removed and potted or left to grow into the bottle,” she adds.

Mr Moralee comments: “It has been about three weeks since the cutting was made… and, as you can see, there is a huge amount of new root growth.”

Well done to green-fingered Cassia!