Cutting

A cutting is a piece taken from a parent plant, commonly part of a stem. It is placed in suitable growing conditions so that it develops roots and grows into a new plant. Its cells came from the parent and divide by mitosis, so the new plant is genetically identical to that parent.

Growers can apply them to encourage a useful response, such as making a cutting form roots, or to prevent unwanted plants from competing with a crop. The effect depends on the hormone, the amount applied and the plant receiving it. These uses of plant hormones are Higher Tier content in OCR Biology A.

A stem cutting is a piece taken from a plant to grow into a new one. Dipping its base in a rooting powder containing auxin encourages roots to form. Once rooted, the cutting can take up water and mineral ions and continue growing.