Abstract
Herbaceous crop yield intensification creates favourable conditions for the development of pests that intensify the attack of soil pathogens traditionally controlled by disinfectant, which are mostly prohibited and unlisted because of their toxicity. The use of grafted plants solves this problem and assists in addressing abiotic stress conditions. Within Solanaceae, specifically tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum), the use of the splicing technique (simple and easily automated) is of special interest. This experiment attempts to present the combined influence of cutting angle and different random diameters on grafting success with the objective of detecting an optimum working range that will be applicable to automated and robotic grafting systems. An increase in the grafting angle is associated with a higher survival of grafted plants despite variations in diameter. Moreover, a threshold cutting angle is observed from which the success rate no longer increases but decreases drastically. Therefore, for a given working range with a significant cutting angle, whether the seedlings of origin are similar in diameter is not important, and this factor is more influential outside the optimal cutting angle range.
Highlights
The objective of the experimental study was to determine the combined importance of random rootstock and scion diameters at different cutting angles on splice grafting success
Analysis process included two stages: the first phase consisted of conducting a descriptive analysis of the data distribution and their correlation through the application of One-way ANOVA for Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD ANOVA), and the second phase consisted of a two-way analysis of variance in which only one sample per group was run, and the results were assessed by a post-hoc comparison test, such as Student's t-test
From 80◦ onward, successful execution of the graft began to be materially more complicated due to two factors: physical limitations related to the technology used for the cutting and subsequent union of the seedlings; and the exponential increase in the sectioned surface that was directly related to the tangent of the cutting angle, which determined both the exposed surface and the rigidity and firmness of the structure of the dissected and subsequently joined seedlings
Summary
The objective of the experimental study was to determine the combined importance of random rootstock and scion diameters at different cutting angles on splice grafting success. The experiment was developed as part of a larger study to optimize working conditions for the automation of grafting via the splicing technique. Grafting can be defined as a natural or deliberate fusion of plant parts by which vascular continuity is established [1], so that the resulting organisms function as a single plant [2]. The portion of the upper tissue or crown of a plant, which is known as the stem or scion, adheres to another portion of the plant, its root and lower part, which is commonly called rootstock, under stock or stock, and both parts come in contact and join with each other so that the resulting composite plant grows and develops as a single organism (graft). The callus corresponds to Agronomy 2019, 9, 5; doi:10.3390/agronomy9010005 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy
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