Stem Anatomy and Grafting Success of Chinese Chestnut Scions on ‘AU-Cropper’ and ‘Qing’ Seedling Rootstocks

Abstract

Grafting failure of Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) trees is common. Some researchers have suggested that secondary phloem fibers in chestnut rootstock stems may interfere with graft union formation. Others suggest that high rootstock moisture content may reduce grafting success. This study was conducted to ascertain the precise arrangement of secondary phloem fibers in Chinese chestnut seedling rootstocks and to determine if they are associated with grafting failure. We also investigated the effects of moisture content of rootstocks and container growing medium on grafting success. Nodes on Chinese chestnut seedlings had 2/5 phyllotaxy with five alternate buds present in two revolutions around the stem. Vascular cambium in 1-year-old rootstock stems was arranged in a regular five-lobed cylinder in cross-sections. Primary phloem fibers were present in a discontinuous ring and secondary phloem fibers were usually clustered outside the cambium between the lobes. Grafts were successful when scion buds were placed on the rootstock disrupting secondary phloem fibers with cambia of the budded tissues aligned. Containerized rootstocks at 56% and 62% growing medium moisture content before grafting had 25% graft union success rates, whereas non-irrigated plants at 48% moisture had a 75% success rate.