Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A scion is a young shoot or twig that is grafted onto the rootstock of another plant. It is used in horticulture to propagate plants with desirable traits.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Scions are typically chosen for their superior fruit, flower, or foliage characteristics.
The success of grafting a scion depends on the compatibility between the scion and the rootstock.
Scions must be kept moist and cool before grafting to ensure successful union with the rootstock.
Grafting using a scion can help circumvent issues such as soil-borne diseases that affect roots.
The process facilitates the combination of different plant strengths, such as drought resistance from the rootstock and high yield from the scion.
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Related terms
Rootstock: The part of a plant onto which a scion is grafted, providing the root system for the new plant.
Grafting: A horticultural technique where tissues from one plant are inserted into those of another so that they may continue to grow together.
Asexual Reproduction: A mode of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single organism without genetic contribution from another organism.