FFA Floriculture Practice Test

The term 'grafting' refers to:

1. A method of seed propagation

2. A method of asexual reproduction

3. A type of soil preparation

4. A method of fertilization

The correct answer is: A method of asexual reproduction

Grafting is a method of asexual reproduction that involves joining two different plant parts together so they grow as a single plant. This technique is commonly used in horticulture to propagate desirable varieties of plants that may not grow well from seed or to combine the best traits of two different plants, such as disease resistance and good fruit quality. The process typically includes attaching a scion, which is a piece of the plant that has desirable features, to a rootstock, which is the lower part of the plant providing the root system. Over time, the tissues of the scion and the rootstock fuse, allowing for the transfer of nutrients and water, thereby creating a new plant that has the characteristics of both original plants. Other options describe different horticultural practices: seed propagation refers to growing new plants from seeds, which involves sexual reproduction; soil preparation prepares the planting environment but does not involve plant propagation; and fertilization involves the union of male and female gametes, which is part of sexual reproduction. Hence, grafting specifically fits the definition of a method of asexual reproduction.