EVALUATION OF GRAFTING METHODS IN MANGO TREES

Abstract

A successful propagation of fruit trees depends on the technologies used in obtaining high quality seedlings. The best method for mango tree propagation that provides identity to the desired cultivar and a fast beginning of the production is the grafting accomplished in a nursery. So, a study was carried out at Fruit Seedling Nursery pertaining to the 'Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros', Janauba -MG, in order to evaluate three grafting types in three commercial cultivars of mango tree accomplished over the winter season. The randomized block experimental design was used on a 3 x 3 factorial scheme, with three replicates and one plant per plot. Different grafting types (cleft grafting, splice grafting, and budding) were tested in the cultivars 'Haden', 'Tommy Atkins', and 'Palmer'. The 'Espada' was used as rootstock. The splice grafting presented 100% establishment at the formation of mango plant seedlings 'Haden' and 'Palmer', significantly differing from the other grafting types, of which the maximum establishment was 50%. In 'Tommy Atkins', the cleft grafting and the splice grafting presented 100% and 90% takes, respectively. In budding, the grafting period at the first and second flushes did not differ among those cultivars, but its average values were significantly superior to those of the other grafting types. Despite the higher height of the budding-grafted seedlings, the stem diameter at the second flush did not differ significantly among the grafting types in each cultivar.