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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of plant propagation by budding, grafting, layering and tissue culture
Level / 2 / Credits / 5
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the propagation of plants by budding, grafting, tissue culture, and layering.
Classification / Horticulture > Nursery Production
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills
and knowledge / Unit 27708, Demonstrate knowledge of sexual and asexual plant propagation, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Plant Variety Rights Act 1987; and its subsequent amendments.
2Learners should recognise the rights of plant breeders and licensed growers under the Plant Variety Rights Act 1987, trademarks, copyright, patents or any other protection method, and understand the responsibilities of propagators to observe those rights.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe the propagation of plants by budding and grafting.
Evidence requirements
1.1Common methods of budding and grafting are described, with two examples of plants propagated by each method.
Rangemay include - chip bud, T-bud, whip and tongue graft, cleft graft.
1.2The selection of budding or grafting methods is described in terms of the plant species, and timing.
1.3The selection of scion material and rootstocks and their compatibility is described in terms of the plants to be propagated.
1.4The aftercare of budded and grafted plants is described.
1.5Two reasons for growing plants by budding and grafting are stated.
Outcome 2
Describe the propagation of plants by tissue culture.
Evidence requirements
2.1Common tissue culture methods are described in general terms, with two examples of plants propagated by each method.
Rangemay include - meristem culture, embryo culture.
2.2The selection of the plant parts, the culture medium, and timing, are described in terms of the plants to be propagated and the culture method used.
2.3The culture process is described.
Rangemay include - hygiene, parent material, dissection, culture, exflasking/deflasking, hardening off.
2.4Two reasons for propagating plants by tissue culture are stated.
Outcome 3
Describe the propagation of plants by layering.
Evidence requirements
3.1Common methods of plant layering are described with one example of plants propagated by each method.
Rangesimple layering, mound layering, tip layering, air layering.
3.2The layering method selection is described in terms of plant species propagated and timing.
3.3The establishment and after care of layered material are described.
3.4Two reasons for propagating plants by layering are stated.
Replacement information / This unit standard and unit standard 27708 replaced unit standard 20556.Planned review date / 31 December 2017
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 19 April 2012 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0032
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Primary Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101558 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018