Girdled Branches Research Articles

Study on the Optimal Leaf Area-to-Fruit Ratio of Pear Trees on the Basis of Bearing Branch Girdling and Machine Learning.

The leaf area-to-fruit ratio (LAFR) is an important factor affecting fruit quality. Previous studies on LAFR have provided some recommendations for optimal values. However, these recommendations have been quite broad and lack effectiveness during the fruit thinning period. In this study, data on the LAFR and fruit quality of pears at 5 stages were collected by continuously girdling bearing branches throughout the entire fruit development process. Five different clustering algorithms, including KMeans, Agglomerative clustering, Spectral clustering, Birch, and Spectral biclustering, were employed to classify the fruit quality data. Agglomerative clustering yielded the best results when the dataset was divided into 4 clusters. The least squares method was utilized to fit the LAFR corresponding to the best quality cluster, and the optimal LAFR values for 28, 42, 63, 91, and 112 days after flowering were 12.54, 18.95, 23.79, 27.06, and 28.76 dm2 (the corresponding leaf-to-fruit ratio values were 19, 29, 36, 41, and 44, respectively). Furthermore, field verification experiments demonstrated that the optimal LAFR contributed to improving pear fruit quality, and a relatively high LAFR beyond the optimum value did not further increase quality. In summary, we optimized the LAFR of pear trees at different stages and confirmed the effectiveness of the optimal LAFR in improving fruit quality. Our research provides a theoretical basis for managing pear tree fruit load and achieving high-quality, clean fruit production.

Effects of Altering Carbohydrate Supply to Fruit during Development on the Carpometric and Qualitative Characteristics of “Feminello Zagara Bianca” Lemon

In this study, the effects of altering carbohydrate supply, carried out through branch girdling, on the carpometric and qualitative characteristics of the Feminello Zagara Bianca variety lemon fruits were evaluated. Four girdling times (70, 100, 130, 160 days) were compared with a control. The results showed important effects of alteration times of the supply of carbohydrates to fruit sinks on many carpometric and qualitative characteristics of lemons. Fruits from trees with early girdled branches (70 and 100 DAFB) showed higher weights and juice contents than those with later girdled branches (130 and 160 DAFB) and from ungirdled trees. The increased availability of carbohydrates for fruit in the initial period of the cell enlargement phase allowed the lemons of the trees girdled at 70 and 100 DAFB to anticipate the degreening process of the peel and pulp and ripening process. The advancement of the ripening process determined that the fruits of trees with early girdled branches had a lower acidity content compared with those harvested after the catabolism of citric acid. The knowledge acquired with this study provides new information on factors affecting the growth and ripening of lemons, the improvement of fruit quality, and the anticipation of harvest time.

Standardization of grafting technique in Kusum [Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken

The species, Schleichera oleosa (Kusum), holds an important place in the livelihood of tribal farmers in eastern region of India. It is getting popular due to its ethnobotanical values and its potential use as host plant for lac production. Its natural population and genetic variability is declining at faster rate due to deforestation and human interventions. Mass production of Kusum seedlings is a major challenge and moreover, auto-generation of heterozygous nature in plants calls for long term experiments for its genetic improvement which require huge monetary investments. Moreover, the factors like low quality and quantity planting materials and the problem of restricted growth in plants raised from seeds hinder the interest of the farmers. Hence, clonal propagation through grafting could be an option. The scientific knowledge on application and standardization of various approaches like girdling of scionstick branches, age of mother plant, rootstocks, etc. of Kusum are extremely limited. Keeping these in view, an experiment was conducted during 2018–2021 to standardize grafting technique in Kusum. The result revealed that grafting methods affected the graft’s success significantly. Cleft grafting was found to be the most successful (72.38% graft) than veneer grafting (64.46%). Moreover, the scions collected from tree aged <15 years showed maximum success in grafting (upto 86.23%). This study revealed the importance of girdling of scionstick branches, girdling age (3 months), girdling-ring thickness (6–8 mm), and selection of two years old rootstock to maximize graft success upto 86.25% in Kusum. Furthermore, season also play an important role in successful grafting. The period from April to June was the best time for grafting with 73.31% success.

Validating Technologies and Evaluating the Technological Level in Avocado Production Systems: A Value Chain Approach

In agriculture, technologies support the productivity and competitiveness of production systems in value chains. In the last decade, the Colombian avocado sub-sector has expanded. However, little is known about its technological level (TL). The objectives of this study were (i) to understand the perception of value chain experts in terms of technological supplies and demands, (ii) to evaluate the TL in avocado production systems and (iii) to discover which socioeconomic characteristics impact the TL. The three stages were consultation with experts and parameterization of the TL, evaluation of the TL using multivariate methods and analysis of variables of the production system. The technological supply “By-products from seed” was of great importance, while “Branch girdling” was the least relevant. A total of 161 demands were identified, “Environmental management and sustainability” showing greater relevance. The analysis showed a low correlation between the qualification of experts and the use of technology by producers. The postharvest supplies had the lowest frequency of use. Producers were characterized according to TL: high (34.4%), medium (47.2%) and low (18.4%). A relationship was found between the TL and some variables of the production system. The gap found should be the basis for designing science and technology policies for the avocado sub-sector in Colombia.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal how girdling promotes leaf color expression in Acer rubrum L

BackgroundAcer rubrum L. (red maple) is a popular tree with attractive colored leaves, strong physiological adaptability, and a high ornamental value. Changes in leaf color can be an adaptive response to changes in environmental factors, and also a stress response to external disturbances. In this study, we evaluated the effect of girdling on the color expression of A. rubrum leaves. We studied the phenotypic characteristics, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and the transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of leaves on girdled and non-girdled branches of A. rubrum.ResultsPhenotypic studies showed that girdling resulted in earlier formation of red leaves, and a more intense red color in the leaves. Compared with the control branches, the girdled branches produced leaves with significantly different color parameters a*. Physiological and biochemical studies showed that girdling of branches resulted in uneven accumulation of chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and other pigments in leaves above the band. In the transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, 28,432 unigenes including 1095 up-regulated genes and 708 down-regulated genes were identified, and the differentially expressed genes were mapped to various KEGG (kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) pathways. Six genes encoding key transcription factors related to anthocyanin metabolism were among differentially expressed genes between leaves on girdled and non-girdled branches.ConclusionsGirdling significantly affected the growth and photosynthesis of red maple, and affected the metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and carbon metabolisms in the leaves. This resulted in pigment accumulation in the leaves above the girdling site, leading to marked red color expression in those leaves. A transcriptome analysis revealed six genes encoding anthocyanin-related transcription factors that were up-regulated in the leaves above the girdling site. These transcription factors are known to be involved in the regulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, anthocyanin biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis. These results suggest that leaf reddening is a complex environmental adaptation strategy to maintain normal metabolism in response to environmental changes. Overall, the results of these comprehensive phenotype, physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses provide a deeper and more reliable understanding of the coevolution of red maple leaves in response to environmental changes.

Response of sink manipulation in ‘Lapins’ sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) branches to late-deficit irrigation

Photosynthetic traits, leaf soluble sugars and fruit yield and size were evaluated in order to identify the role of early sink manipulation (girdling and fruiting spur thinning applied in winter) in modulating the effect of late-deficit irrigation (recovering 60% of crop evapotranspiration during 36 days pre-harvest) in ‘Lapins’ sweet cherry branches. Photosynthesis (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), and fruit weight were affected by both treatments, whereas intercellular CO2 concentration of leaves (Ci), mesophyll conductance (gm), Rubisco carboxylase activity (Vcmax), electron transport rate (Jmax), leaf soluble sugars and branch yield were exclusively affected by sink manipulation. The effect of sink manipulation on PN was mainly observed in the girdling treatment as it was not altered by thinning. In girdled branches, PN dropped by 34%, accompanied by a two-fold increase in leaf soluble sugars, indicating that sink feedback regulation of carbon assimilation occurred. Irrespective of the irrigation, the higher PN observed in the controls were not sufficient to achieve the fruit weight and yield of the girdled branches, indicating that fruit carbon demand in control branches was source-limited. The depressed PN by girdling was associated with significant reductions in gs, gm, Vcmax and Jmax. Since lowered PN by deficit irrigation was neither attributable to a gs-associated decrease in Ci nor to changes in any other photosynthetic variable, further research is needed to clarify this point. Results showed that irrigation deficit was sufficient to reduce PN in girdled branches, whereas it had no effect in control and thinned branches. Thus, the depressive effect of deficit irrigation on PN appeared to be exacerbated by the sink effect.

Oncideres saga Dalman: first record damaging Stryphnodendron adstringens Mart. Coville (Fabaceae) in Brazil.

Oncideres females girdle tree branches of the Fabaceae family, interrupting the sap flow and turning the wood conditions ideal for their larvae development. The bark of Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville, a species native to the Brazilian Cerrado, is widely used in the traditional medicine. The objectives were to report, for the first time, Oncideres saga (Dalman), using S. adstringens as a host and to describe the pattern of branch girdling and oviposition distribution by this insect on these branches. The diameter at the base and the length of the girdled branches were measured and the number of incisions made by the O. saga females to oviposit, per branch section (basal, median and apical), counted. The emerged specimens were counted and the diameter of the exit holes measured. The average diameter at the base of the girdled branches was 2.5 ± 0.16 cm and the length was 90.6 ± 4.6 cm. The average number of incisions per branch was 37.7 ± 2.7. Damage by O. saga can reduce the growth and cause losses on S. adstringens, a tree with great extractivism potential.

Girdling, maturation degree and ethephon on azalea cuttings establishment

Abstract The sector that ranges from cultivation to sale of ornamental species is highlighted in the agribusiness scenario, due to the frequent increase in demand for its products. This importance encourages the exploration of new technologies that allow the development of protocols for the multiplication of species of commercial interest. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate and validate the use of girdling, ethephon and the selection of degree of branch maturation as techniques for increasing the establishment of cuttings of Rhododendron simsii Planch. The treatments combining the three study factors were applied to the branches of the parent plants: two levels of girdling (with and without), two levels of application of ethephon at the concentration of 900 mg L-1 (with and without application) and two degrees of maturation (woody and herbaceous). It was found that the presence of branch girdling increased the rate of establishment of cuttings by 43.75%, while the joint use of two techniques, the application of ethephon and the selection of herbaceous cuttings, resulted in an establishment rate 56.25% higher than the average of other treatments. Thus, it can be concluded that both branch girdling and the application of ethephon combined with the use of herbaceous branches can be used as techniques for the greater establishment of cuttings of Rhododendron simsii Planch.

Effect of branch girdling on berry traits, chemical and sensory characteristics of ‘Italia’ and ‘Victoria’ table grapes

ABSTRACT Girdling is an ancient agronomic technique that causes a change in the distribution of photosynthates, mineral nutrients and plant hormones. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of girdling technique on ‘Italia’ and ‘Victoria’ table grape cultivars. In this study, the carpological, physico-chemical and sensory data were evaluated. In order to assess the effect of girdling on grape volatile compounds, a headspace solid-phase microextraction was also performed. Results showed the effects of girdling on morphological, physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of table grapes with a different change of berry size and colour depending on the cultivar. The girdling treatment produced a significant decrease of sugar content and total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio only for ‘Italia’ cultivar. The analysis of volatile compounds revealed that ‘Italia’ cultivar had three more compounds than ‘Victoria’ and that the samples taken from the girdled grapevines had fewer compounds than their ungirdled ones. The results exhibited that the girdling treatment was more effective on the ‘Italia’ cultivar. This study showed that girdling efficacy strongly depends on the cultivar. The samples from the girdled grapevines had fewer volatile compounds than the ungirdled ones. The Principal Component Analysis totally differentiated both cultivar and treatment without overlap.

Study on the effects of polymer modifiers and phloem girdling on cotton in cadmium-contaminated soil in Xinjiang Province, China

The effects of two liquid modifiers (polyacrylate compound modifier and organic polymer compound modifier) and phloem girdling (stem girdling and branch girdling) on cadmium (Cd) content, Cd transport, and photosynthetic parameters of cotton (Xinluzao 60) in Cd-contaminated soil (40 mg kg −1) were studied through barrel experiment. The results showed that the distribution ratios of Cd in stem, leaves, and bolls, leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn), leaf stomatal conductance (Gs), leaf transpiration rate (Tr), and chlorophyll content were decreased after girdling; and the application of modifiers reduced the Cd content and the Cd transported to the shoot, while alleviating photosynthetic damage caused by girdling. In general, our results indicated that the inhibition of carbohydrate supply caused by girdling reduced the photosynthetic capacity of cotton, while the applications of the two liquid modifiers decrease the influence to cotton photosynthesis. Moreover, Cd and modifiers may be transported to the shoot through both phloem and xylem.

Effects of Nitrogen Foliar Fertilization on the Vegetative and Productive Performance of the Olive Tree and on Oil Quality

The correct management (dose, time of distribution) of N fertilization in olive growing is still not completely clarified but is nowadays essential in order to guarantee sustainable production. In this regard, in central Italy over a 4-year-period a study was carried out to investigate the effect of high nitrogen availability during oil accumulation in the fruit (second phase of fruit growth) on vegetative and productive activities of olive trees and oil quality. In May of each year, secondary branches were selected and girdled in their proximal part. Afterwards, half of the girdled branches were sprayed three times with a solution containing urea (2% w/w), whereas the other half was sprayed only with water. The nitrogen treatments did not cause any damage to the foliage and fruits nor did it cause appreciable changes in leaf photosynthesis and specific weight, fruit-drop, ripening pattern and weight, water and oil contents, pulp/pit ratio of the fruits, fatty acid composition, polyphenols content, and sensorial characteristics of the oil. The N provided via foliar fertilization during the oil accumulation phase in trees in conditions of good supply of N does not induce significant effects on the vegetative-productive activity of the tree.

Girdling of fruit-bearing branches of Corylus avellana reduces seed mass while defoliation does not

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is an important nut crop with clear mast seeding behaviour leading to alternate yield and, thus, to management issues. It was hypothesized that masting is associated to accumulation/depletion of carbon within storage tissues (i.e. stem, large branches, roots). We hypothesized that fruit yield depends both on carbon fixed by leaves on the same branch and carbon stored in the main stem. We therefore conducted a manipulation of carbon sink-source resources on fruit-bearing branches of C. avellana cv. ‘Tonda di Giffoni’ by combining girdling and defoliation on a set of branches. We measured the number and diameter of nuts and leaves, the dry weight of fruits and seeds and the amount of blanks over the growing season. We also estimated the whole tree leaf area by allometric equations and the tree yield by collecting all nuts separately on 15 trees at maturity. The average seed dry mass in the un-defoliated girdled treatment was significantly lower than the control (0.5 vs. 0.9 g) suggesting that the fruit-bearing branches need to import carbon from the main stem and that the carbon autonomy of fruit-bearing branches is not supported during kernel maturation process. We also observed that the correlation at whole tree level between leaf area and seed mass is strong in non-masting years, while it becomes weaker in masting years reinforcing the hypothesis that the productivity of masting yields also relies on stored resources.

Agrilozodes Suarezi (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) as Secondary Colonizer of a Sclerolobium sp. Branch Girdled by Oncideres Saga (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

A large number of invertebrates use dead wood as shelter, food, and as a microclimate refuge. Ecological succession in this substrate depends on primary colonization, stimulating or inhibiting future successions. Twig girdler beetles girdle and lay eggs inside the bark of branches and trunks of different host plants. Branch girdling blocks the phloem flow, making it more nutritive for offspring and future colonizers. This study, in the State Park of Rio Doce (PERD), Minas Gerais, Brazil, is the first report of a secondary colonization by borers on a Sclerolobium sp. branch girdled by Oncideres saga (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). A Sclerolobium sp. branch, girdled by O. saga was collected in Rio Doce State Park, cut into pieces, and brought to the laboratory, where it was stored in a cardboard box and moistened monthly. A total of 28 adult beetles of 4 species emerged from this branch. Agrilozodes suarezi was found for the first time developing inside a branch of its first host plant. The life history of insects of the genus Agrilozodes is poorly known, because this is the first report of aspects of its biology.

Influence of girdling on flower sex ratio, biochemical constituents, and fruit set intensity in mango (Mangifera indica L.)

The study was conducted in mango to understand the relationship of various metabolites with flower sex ratio (hermaphrodite/male) and fruit set using stem girdling technique. Girdling one year old branches was carried out in two cultivars, Mangifera indica 'Alphonso' and 'Totapuri' to retain 50, 100 and 150 leaves to vary the content of hormones, sugars, total carbohydrates, and amino acids. The increased leaf number was found to increase the total carbohydrates, glucose, fructose, and other sugars. Girdling also significantly increased the concentration of abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), indole acetic acid, indole butyric acid but decreased gibberellins and cytokinins. Amino acids also increased in the girdled branches. Girdling improved the flower sex ratio as well as fruit set more efficiently in 'Alphonso' than in 'Totapuri'. Results indicate that the increase in production of hermaphrodite flowers may be more related to the higher production of growth inhibitors, like ABA, SA, and JA along with increased concentration of sugars. Increased auxin concentration also might play an important role in increasing the fruit set.

Boron foliar application, branch girdling and plant growth regulators on yield and fruit quality of 'Garber' pear trees.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of boron foliar application, branch girdling and plant growth regulators on the performance of pear trees cv. Garber. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of different boron rates (220, 440, 660 and 880 mL 100 L-1), branch girdling, and the plant growth regulators Promalin® (benzyladenine + gibberellins AG4+7) (560 mL 100 L-1) and Biozyme * TF (200 mL 100 L-1). The percentage of fruit set, stem length, fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh firmness, soluble solids and yield were assessed. The greatest fruit set was observed with Promalin® in both years and also boron and Biozyme * TF in the second year. The use of Promalin® increased peduncle length, fruit height but negatively affected soluble solids. Yield was also increased by this plant growth regulator and boron. Concluding, Promalin® improves fruit set, yield, and fruit quality and boron positively influence yield.

Mechanisms by which basal branches suppress axillary bud outgrowth in pea (Pisum sativum)

This study examined whether the strong inhibitory influences of basal branches on axillary bud outgrowth seen in Trifolium repens L. similarly occur in Pisum sativum L. Mechanisms by which basal branches in P. sativum suppress bud outgrowth were assessed using treatment combinations of main stem decapitation and excision, girdling, and (or) disbudding of basal branches. The combination of decapitation with basal branch excision provided a new avenue for the investigation of correlative suppression of bud outgrowth. The results revealed a dual suppressive action of basal branch buds: girdling of basal branches confirmed they act via export of an inhibitory influence, but also demonstrated, for the first time in P. sativum, their role as competitive sinks for bud outgrowth stimulus. Although all of the axillary buds on the main stem had similar intrinsic potential for outgrowth, sensitivity to these suppressive influences varied with position on the stem. This suppressive influence of basal branches was, like apical dominance, a major influence on the regulation of bud outgrowth. The finding in P. sativum that basal branches suppress bud outgrowth via their action as competitive sinks for an outgrowth stimulus, as they do in nodally rooting clonal herbs, suggests further investigation of this process is warranted.

Inheritance and Linkage Mapping of Eastern Filbert Blight Disease Resistance in ‘Uebov’ Hazelnut

Eastern filbert blight (EFB) is a serious fungal disease of european hazelnut (Corylus avellana) in North America. The causal agent is the pyrenomycete Anisogramma anomala, which is native in the eastern United States where it occasionally produces small cankers on the wild american hazelnut (C. americana). However, most commercial cultivars of european hazelnut are susceptible. Infection leads to perennial cankers, girdling of branches, and premature tree death. Cultural practices including scouting, pruning out infected branches, and fungicide applications are recommended to slow disease spread but are expensive and not completely effective. EFB resistance from ‘Gasaway’ is conferred by a dominant allele at a single locus and has been extensively used in the Oregon State University hazelnut breeding program, but there is concern that this resistance could be overcome by isolates now present in the eastern United States or that a new race of the pathogen could arise in Oregon. Segregation for EFB resistance from ‘Uebov’, a new source from Serbia, was studied in three progenies by a combination of structure exposure and greenhouse inoculation. The frequency of resistant seedlings following structure exposure was about 20% in all three progenies. The ratios failed to fit the expected 1:1 ratio but did fit a ratio of 1 resistant:3 susceptible, which would be expected if resistance were conferred by dominant alleles at two independent loci. Seedlings from a cross of susceptible selection OSU 741.105 and ‘Uebov’ were used to study correlation of disease response and presence of alleles at microsatellite marker loci. Resistance was highly correlated with the presence of alleles at marker loci on linkage group 6 (LG6), and these markers also showed segregation distortion. We conclude that EFB resistance from ‘Uebov’ maps to a single locus on LG6 in the same region as resistance from ‘Gasaway’, although only about 20% of the seedlings are resistant because of segregation distortion. ‘Uebov’ has large, well-filled, round nuts and is suitable as a parent in breeding for the in-shell market, but its low nut yields and a high frequency of shells with split sutures are the drawbacks. Its use would expand options for breeding and ‘Uebov’ resistance could be combined with other resistance alleles with an expectation of more durable EFB resistance. Durable resistance would not only sustain the hazelnut industry in Oregon but would also allow expansion of plantings to new areas.

Experimental branch cooling increases foliar sugar and anthocyanin concentrations in sugar maple at the end of the growing season

Autumnal leaf anthocyanin expression is enhanced following exposure to a variety of environmental stresses and may represent an adaptive benefit of protecting leaves from those stresses, thereby allowing for prolonged sugar and nutrient resorption. Past work has shown that experimentally induced sugar accumulations following branch girdling triggers anthocyanin biosynthesis. We hypothesized that reduced phloem transport at low autumnal temperatures may increase leaf sugar concentrations that stimulate anthocyanin production, resulting in enhanced tree- and landscape-scale color change. We used refrigerant-filled tubing to cool individual branches in a mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) tree to test whether phloem cooling would trigger foliar sugar accumulations and enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis. Cooling increased foliar sucrose, glucose, and fructose concentrations 2- to nearly 10-fold (depending on the specific sugar and sampling date) relative to controls and increased anthocyanin concentrations by approximately the same amount. Correlation analyses indicated a strong and steady positive relationship between anthocyanin and sugar concentrations, which was consistent with a mechanistic link between cooling-induced changes in these constituents. Tested here at the branch level, we propose that low temperature induced reductions in phloem transport may be responsible for increases in foliar sugars that trigger anthocyanin displays at grander scales.

Effect of girdling on flowering and fruiting of litchi (Litchi chinensis) in subtropics of Bihar

An experiment was conducted during 2014 and 2015 to study the effect of varied extent of girdling for induction of flowering in litchi (Litchi chinensis sonn.) under Bihar condition. Results indicated that circular girdling of 2mm on 50% primary branches produced more flowering panicle, fruit yield, fruit size, TSS, and TSS/acid ratio in Shahi litchi trees compared to ungirdle (control) trees. Findings also revealed that the wound healing duration of girdled portion increases with increasing the size of girdling notch. The average yields from all girdled treatments were about three to five times higher than control. Gradual decrease in fruit weight was noticed with increase of girdling size in both 25% PB and 50% PB. TSS and TSS/ acid ratio showed decreasing trend while acidity and ascorbic acid content of the fruit showed increasing trend with increase in level of girdling width. All girdled shoots showed more accumulation of carbohydrate in leaves than control. Among the girdled branches, gradual increase in leaf carbohydrate and C/N ratio content and decrease in nitrogen content observed with increase in level of girdling but the nitrogen content of bark showed the reverse trend.

Standardization of grafting technique in litchi

The present experiment was conducted at the Research Centre, Ranchi of the ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, during the period from June, 2015 to December, 2016 to investigate the effect of girdling and defoliation of scion shoot on the success and growth of grafts in litchi cv. Shahi. The branches were girdled (removing of 3 mm ring from branches of 40–50 mm girth) one month before the collection of scion sticks for grafting. Defoliation was performed 7 days before the collection of scionsticks. Wedge grafting was performed under shadenet with temperature ranging from 26–32°C and RH 70–80%. The graft take success and vegetative growth were markedly improved as a result of girdling and defoliation. Among the different treatments, the minimum time required for bud sprout (15.40 days), highest scion height (24.25 cm), scion girth (7.14 mm), number of sprouts per graft (2.64), sprout length (4.80 cm), number of compound leaves (8.34), rachis length (9.33 cm), leaflet length (9.37 cm), leaflet width (3.37 cm) and graft success (56.43%) were observed in girdling + defoliation treatment. Scion which had higher girth after grafting was positively correlated with the number of compound leaves, leaflet length and leaflet width. The highest graft success rate (70.83%) was recorded during July. Hence, it was concluded that girdling of branches on scion varieties, one month prior to collection of scionstick and defoliation atleast 7 days before the collection, can enhance the success rate of grafting and plant growth of grafts in litchi.