Which method is exemplified by air layering?

Air layering is a form of asexual reproduction. This method involves encouraging a plant to develop roots while it is still attached to the parent plant. By wounding a section of the stem and providing a moist environment, the plant can produce roots at that site. Once these roots are established, the section can be cut away from the parent plant, resulting in a new plant that is genetically identical to the original.

Asexual reproduction methods, like air layering, are instrumental in horticulture because they allow for the propagation of plants without the genetic variation that occurs with sexual reproduction through seeds. This technique is particularly useful for reproducing certain types of plants that may not root easily from cuttings or are difficult to germinate from seeds.

Seed propagation, grafting, and hybridization are distinct methods that each involve different processes and objectives. Seed propagation relies on the production of seeds, grafting joins two plants together to share their growth benefits, and hybridization combines different plant varieties to create new genetic combinations. Each of these methods has its own specific applications in agriculture and horticulture.