vegetative propagation, reproduction of a plant by asexual means. In viticulture, cuttings on which both roots and shoots will grow are used. In those limited locations where phylloxera and other root pests are not present and rootstocks are not used, layering can be used to replace missing vines. Micropropagation (see tissue culture) is a modern application in which small amounts of a mother vine may be propagated in large numbers rapidly. Unlike sexual propagation, the progeny of vegetative propagation is genetically identical, unless mutation intervenes.
