Hartmann and Kester's Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (7th Edition) [Hardcover]

Hudson T. Hartmann (Author), Dale E. Kester (Author), Fred T. Davies (Author), Robert Geneve (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 7, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0136792359 | ISBN-13: 978-0136792352 | Edition: 7

Hallmarked as the most successful book of its kind, this remarkably thorough treatment covers all aspects of the propagation of plants—both sexual and asexual—with considerable attention given to human (vs natural) efforts to increase plant numbers. The book presents both the art and science of propagation, and conveys knowledge of specific kinds of plants and the particular methods by which those plants must be propagated. A five-part organization outlines general aspects of plant propagation, seed propagation, vegetative propagation, methods of micropropagation, and propagation of selected plants. For anyone with an interest in how plants are grown and utilized for maintaining and adding enjoyment to human life.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Hallmarked as the most successful text of its kind, this remarkably thorough book covers all aspects or the propagation of plants—both sexual and asexual—with considerable attention given to human (vs. natural) efforts to increase plant numbers. The text presents both the art and science of propagation, and conveys knowledge of specific kinds of plants and the particular methods by which those plants must be propagated.

New features of the seventh edition include:

• In-depth text boxes separate more advanced topics or highlight specific key terminology.
• User-friendly elements, such as chapter-opening objectives and a marginal glossary have been added to assist users in managing and digesting the vast amount of technical information presented in this course.
• FREE glossary CD-ROM packaged with the text provides a valuable resource for learning the extensive new vocabulary of this course. Full-color photos and video clips help bring many of the terms to life.
• Chapter 2 has been extensively revised to synthesize the revolutionary impact of biotechnology. The new chapter alerts readers to recent biotechnology advances, their impact on biological concepts and their impact on the practice of plant propagation and makes readers aware of the increasing promise and controversy this technology brings with it.

About the Author

Dale E. Kester is Professor of Pomology emeritus at the University of California, Davis. During his 40 years at the University of California he taught courses in plant propagation and pomology. He has been a member of the American Society of Horticultural Science, becoming a Fellow in 1977. He received jointly the Stark Award in 1980. He has published over 100 research and popular publications in plant propagation and pomology. He has had a lifelong collaboration with Dr. Hudson T. Hartmann which resulted in the publication of the first edition of Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices in 1959, followed by other editions in 1968, 1975, 1983, and 1990. One of the founders of the Western Region of the International Plant Propagators' Society (1960), he has served the society in various capacities including Vice-President, program chair (1996) and President (1997). He received the Curtis J. Alley Achievement Award in 1999.

Fred T. Davies, Jr., Professor of Horticultural Sciences, and Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, has taught courses in plant propagation and nursery production and management since 1979. He has co-authored over 100 research and technical publications. He was a Fulbright Senior Fellow to Mexico (1993) and Peru (1999), and a J.S. Guggenheim Fellow (1999). He received the Distinguished Achievement Award for Nursery Crops from the American Society of Horticultural Sciences (1989), L.M. Ware Distinguished Research Award-ASHS-SR (1995), and S.B. Meadows Award of Merit-International Plant Propagator's Society-SR (1994). He is a recipient of the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching-TAMU (1997), Chancellor of Agriculture's Award in Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching-TAMU (1998), L.M. Ware Distinguished Teaching Award, ASHS-SR (1998), and L.C. Chadwick Educator's Award, American Nursery and Landscape Association (1999). He is the International Division Vice-President-ASHS. He was President, and is currently Editor, of the IPPS-SR.

Robert L. Geneve is a Professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky. He teaches courses in plant propagation and seed biology. He has co-authored over 70 scientific and technical articles in seed biology, cutting propagation, and tissue culture. He is also the co-editor of the book Biotechnology of Ornamental Plants and author of A Book of Blue Flowers. He has served as a board member for the International Plant Propagators' Society-Eastern Region and serves on the Editor for the international horticulture journal, Scientia Horticulturae.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 880 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 7 edition (December 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0136792359
• ISBN-13: 978-0136792352
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #590,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book has lost its focus, October 14, 2002

By 

Margaret Norton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hartmann and Kester's Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

I was looking forward to the new edition of this classic, but I have to say that I'm really disappointed. It's marketed as an undergraduate textbook in plant propagation (which is how I'm using it), but the content is more suited to students with a background including plant physiology and biochemistry, rather than just an introductory plant biology course, which is what my students have. I can understand the authors' desire to make this the definitive textbook on plant propagation, but including details on biochemistry and molecular biology most often obscures the important, basic points. For example, the whole-page figure (p. 17) on the stages of meiosis shows the stages of meiosis, but does not specify that the reduction division is the first division (the information is there, but you have to read closely to find it). Contrast that with the 5th edition, which states outright that the reduction division occurs first and skips details of anaphase I, etc. This may seem petty, but in my class, students got lost in the details and missed the major point of meiosis. Worse, when it comes to growth regulators, the students simply lost interest in wading through the details to get any information.

I think this edition would be improved by two things: first, skip the "lit review" style of the text and return to a simple narrative emphasizing the basic points of plant propagation. Second, move the details to a separate area of the book, either at the end of each chapter or as Part 2 of the book. For example, a short narrative section explaining each of the growth regulators might be followed by an "in depth" section which cites research relevant to growth regulators in plant propagation. Instructors who teach undergrads could assign reading based on the narrative sections, while instructors with more advanced classes (or students who are interested in learning more) could assign the more detailed sections as well. It's either that or create two books.

My students are simply not reading this book, which is a shame. My older edition is one of the most tattered books on my bookshelf because I reach for it so often.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great resource, March 6, 2008

By 

moss dog (Arizona) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hartmann and Kester's Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

I'm a first year Horticulture student, and this is my text for Plant Prop. Almost all of the information I've read so far - a few hundred pages - is new to me. Hartmann et. al. do a great job of taking complex, unfamiliar information and expressing it simply and clearly, so that I understand. In the margins of every page, they break out and define important terms, making it very easy to locate definitions when I need them. There are frequent boxes with "in depth" information that more fully explores concepts brought up in the general narrative.

There's also a CD-Rom dictionary, which is helpful, although I find the access is a bit cumbersome - click on a letter, wait for it to open a list, click on a word (if the word you want is there - many of the ones I wanted to find are not included), wait for it to open the definition & picture, then click back to the first page. If it were simply searchable - if I could type in a word without clicking through the various screens - I'd use it more. It's a nice bonus, though, and they didn't have to include anything at all so it seems unfair to rate the book based on the accessibility of the disc contents.

I will say this book would be most useful in tandem with practical labs that explore the concepts and offer the chance to experience what is in the text. I'm taking my class as an independent study, and I find it is very challenging to teach myself all of this material without the benefit of labs, even though my advisor is excellent and always available for my questions. I generally read the text at least twice and often four times, because it's so intense that I don't catch everything on the first run. I plan to try some of the techniques myself, once I gather the supplies I'll need; I think this will make all the difference in my true understanding and retention of what I've read about, and my advisor agrees.

To instructors, I'd say to just be aware that even though the information is presented gently, it's still a lot for a new student to take in, and even the most conscientious student can get overwhelmed by a 100-page reading assignment. It's too much. Break it up, work in some labs, and really encourage discussion to make it come alive. In that context, I can't imagine a better text to use for teaching Plant Prop.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sad, November 18, 2010

By 

Ronald A LaFond - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hartmann & Kester's Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (8th Edition) (Paperback)

I'm stuck using this book in my Plant Propagation class. I'm appalled by the price - and for a paperback book. I really hate having to do that to my students. I'm hoping they've cleaned up the text since the 7th edition. In the 7th edition I found repeated text. The book was obviously edited and reedited and in the process text was duplicated. I felt like I was reading in circles. The book is a bit over the top for undergraduate studies. I'm using it for community college work.