In vitro in vacuo

Micropropagation in vitro and stem cuttings propagation are comparable since, in both, shoots develop normally from pre-existing buds while roots have to arise adventitiously. The percentage of propagation papers in Forestry Abstracts on micropropagation has steadily increased over the last 15 years to at least 80% of the total, even though virtually all commercial propagation in forestry is by stem cuttings. The often-cited advantages of micropropagation (including rapid multiplication) are shown to be insubstantial, at least for many applications, indicating that research priorities are out of balance.