Hartmann and Kester’s Plant Propagation Principles and Practices, 9th Edition. Fred T. Davies, Jr., Robert L. Geneve, and Sandra B. Wilson. 2017. Pearson Education, Inc., New York. 1004 p. $212.00. Hardcover. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-448089-3
Successful changes and improvements to something that has been considered the high quality standard for many years is rather challenging. However, the authors of the 9th edition of Plant Propagation Principles and Practices have done so in very notable fashion. Horticulturists, horticultural students, researchers, educators, and commercial plant growers and propagators everywhere will appreciate the latest edition of this iconic horticulture textbook and reference.
The book is organized into five major parts including General Aspects of Propagation, Seed Propagation, Vegetative Propagation, Tissue Culture Propagation, and Propagation of Selected Plant Species. Most parts are divided into chapters (21 overall) containing at least five subheadings. Each chapter ends with discussions items and many up-to-date references. The text is clear, well-written, and concise. It is supported by an amazing number of color illustrations and line drawings. One of the best things about the photographs is the opportunity to see unfamiliar propagation techniques and growing methods that may be unfamiliar to many professionals and surely to most students. Excellent pictures illustrate many anatomical features. However, where photography was difficult or not possible the authors rely on wonderful colored line drawings to help illustrate many propagation principles and techniques. All of the illustrations are of excellent quality, clear, and stimulating.
The text is also supported by boxes entitled “Getting More in Depth on the Subject” and numerous tables. The boxes and tables vary in size from about a third up to half a page or more. Boxes generally contain text, and the tables summarize useful facts related to the surrounding text in concise column and row fashion.
Part 4, Tissue Culture Propagation, has a chapter on micropropagation from meristematic tissue and another on tissue culture of non-meristematic tissue. These chapters have been reorganized and expanded compared to earlier editions. Part 5, Propagation Methods of Selected Plant Species, contains recommendations for multiplying horticultural plants of many types. Following Part 5 is a large and useful glossary of 500 terms related to plant propagation.
As an instructor of a plant propagation course for nearly 15 years, I am pleased to recommend this wonderful book as a textbook for horticulture undergraduates or for anyone who might benefit from an in-depth reference on plant propagation. According to the publisher, the price of the print version of the book is $212.00 and the digital subscription version is $86.99. Also, instructors can obtain Powerpoints for each chapter and students can get a test bank. Nowadays the cost of textbooks such as this one is no surprise. One hopes that if this book is selected as a text, the instructor will make every effort to use it routinely as a part of the course so students will get the greatest benefit possible out this fine book and their investment.