Soft Wood Grafting in Mandarin (C. reticulata Blanco)

ABSTRACT

Studies were carried out at ICAR Research complex for NEH Region Umiam, Meghalaya, India on soft wood grafting using Khasi mandarin under poly-house, net-house and open field conditions at 15-day intervals from 15 June to 15 October. Early sprouting, graft success and scion growth were found to be best under poly-house conditions. Similarly, maximum graft success rate and early sprouting were observed under the open field condition compared to the net-house but growth performance of the plants was better under the net-house. Grafting from 30 June to 15 August gave the maximum graft success, plant height, scion diameter, leaves, branches/plant and minimum days for sprouting under all three conditions. A gradual decrease in graft success and increased in days to sprouting were noticed after 15 August. Soft wood grafting of Khasi mandarin was also performed on different rootstocks (C. jambhiri, C. karna, C. reshni, C. latipes, C. taiwanica, Tanzelo dancy, C. grandis, Naity jamir and Karun jamir). Maximum graft success, plant survival, plant height, branches/plant and the minimum time to sprouting the graft were recorded in C. Jambhiri, while, leaves/plant, rootstock and scion diameter were best using Karun jamir rootstock.