Abstract
The graft success of seedlings depends on rootstock size and the skills of grafters. A study was carried out to evaluate the effects of rootstock diameter (at root collar), skills and experience of grafters on mango seedling thinning and grafting. Skilled and unskilled grafters were involved in grafting mango plants for at least three consecutive months. Different rootstock sizes based on root collar diameter of mango seedlings were assessed. The results showed significant differences in graft-take among three groups of nurserymen. The skills and experience of grafters had a significant effect on graft success. The late emerging seedlings showed higher increase in height and diameter after thinning. A higher survival (> 75%) and reduced time to graft-take (19 days) were achieved with thicker rootstocks (0.7 cm) than thinner rootstocks (0.3 cm). The early emerging plants produced more leaves than late emerging plants after grafted. It was concluded that a higher graft-take can best be achieved with skilled grafters and thicker rootstocks. Key words: Apomisis, Mangifera indica, nucellar, nurse, polyembryony, zygote.
Highlights
The supply of good quality and sufficient mango (Mangifera indica) planting materials in the tropics hinges on the development of good nursery management practices which include propagation methods
Significant differences (P 0.0001) between seedling types were obtained with respect to increase in height (Figure 2), but no significant differences were obtained among the three groups of nurserymen and the interaction between groups of nurserymen and seedling type
A similar trend was obtained for the root collar diameter (Figure 1)
Summary
The supply of good quality and sufficient mango (Mangifera indica) planting materials in the tropics hinges on the development of good nursery management practices which include propagation methods. Improvement in the supply of good quality planting materials would ensure good tree survival and establishment in the field. The graft success can be improved when rootstock selection is considered and based on desirable growth attributes of rootstocks (Simons, 1987), the skills and knowledge of grafters (Akinnifesi et al, 2008). Rootstocks play an important role for tree survival and establishment in the field, tree productivity and dwarfing of grafted fruit trees (Mng’omba et al, 2008). The skills of grafters in aligning cambium tissues together are important in reducing graft failure
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