Which term best describes a plant part taken to start a new plant by growing roots in a suitable medium?

• A. Graft
• B. Layer
• C. Cutting
• D. Seedling

Answer: (C)

Starting a new plant from a plant part by growing roots in a suitable medium is a form of vegetative propagation called taking a cutting. A cutting is a piece of plant tissue, typically a stem or leaf, that is placed in soil or another rooting medium where it forms roots and develops into a new plant. This contrasts with grafting, which joins a piece of one plant to another; layering, where roots form while the piece remains attached to the parent plant; and a seedling, which grows from a seed. So cutting is the best description because it directly refers to using a harvested plant part placed in a medium to root and grow into a new plant.