Propagation

by Grafting
MODULE 4
Grafting
 Grafting is an all embracing term which
covers a range of carpentry techniques:
 It includes the SCION which forms the
above ground part of the grafted plant:
 AND the ROOTSTOCK which is the lower
portion of the grafted plant which provides
the root system for the new plant:
Grafting
 An INTERSTOCK or intermediate
rootstock may be used with some
fruit trees where a degree of
incompatibility occurs:
 Interstocks are not normally
needed with ornamental plants:
 Grafting with interstocks is
referred to as DOUBLE WORKING
Grafting
 The aim of grafting is to make clean
cuts in the tissue of the two pieces so
that the CAMBIUM tissues can be
matched together:
 Cambium is the main layer of
meristematic tissue in woody plants:
 It is located as a thin layer of tissue
immediately under the bark in stem
and roots:
The botanical limits of grafting
 Grafting within
species:
 Grafting of
species within
the same genus:
 Grafting of
different genera
within the same
family:
 Grafting between
families:
Reasons for grafting plants
 To propagate
plants which
cannot be
economically
propagated by
other techniques
 Eg. Cultivars of
ornamental
shrubs and trees
Reasons for grafting plants
 To control the
growth and
performance of
trees
 Eg. Apple and
pear orchards
 Malling series
rootstocks
 Malling 27, 26, 9
Reasons for grafting plants
 To confer
resistance to
pathogens to the
grafted plant
 Eg. Waxflowers
 Eg. Avocados
 Eg. Grapes
 Eg. Tomatoes
Grafting practice with students
Reasons for grafting plants
 To bring fruiting
plants into fruit
production
earlier in the life
of the plant:
 All fruit crops
which are
commercially
grafted:
 Fruit at 2-3 years
Reasons for grafting plants
 Grafting to
obtain special
effects in plants:
 Eg. Weeping
standards
 Eg. 2 citrus fruits
on the same tree
 Eg. Multicoloured
rose plants
Reasons for grafting plants
 Grafting as an
orchard
management
technique
 Eg. Top working
of fruit trees to
change varieties
 Eg. Frame
working of fruit
trees to assist
pollination
Factors of importance in the
healing of a graft union
 Time of year
 Scion material at
correct stage of
growth
 Standard of
carpentry
 Tying of the graft
 Growing
environment
Polarity in grafting
 Correct polar
differentiation of
stock and scion
must be
maintained:
 The PROXIMAL
end of the scion
is fitted to the
DISTAL end of
the stock:
Incompatibility in grafting
 Graft compatibility
implies that when
two closely related
plants are grafted
together, there is
no physiological or
morphological
reason why a
union should not
form
Incompatibility in grafting
 Graft
incompatibility
occurs when, for
morphological or
physiological
reasons a closely
related rootstock
/ scion
combination will
not develop a
strong union
Incompatibility in grafting
 Incompatibility is
not common with
ornamental
plants as most
rootstocks
selected for
grafting are
botanically
closely related to
the scion:
Systems of grafting
 There are two
basic systems:
 Field Grafting –
the traditional
system where
rootstocks are
grown and
grafted in the
field:
Selection of suitable rootstocks
 With woody  The vigour
ornamentals, most characteristics of
rootstocks used the rootstock
are closely related usually determine
species to the the size and vigour
scion: of the grafted
 Many are seed plant:
propagated:  This means that
 Easy to propagate many grafted
and fast growing: shrubs grow to a
large size:
Systems of grafting
 Bench grafting
 The rootstocks
are grown in
containers:
 When they are
large enough,
grafting is
carried out
sitting down in
the work shed:
Methods of
Grafting
Systems of grafting
 A Budding

 B Top grafting

 C Side grafting

 D Approach grafting
A. Budding
 Budding is a  Budding produces a
contraction of BUD strong union:
GRAFTING:  It is economical in
 The scion used the use of scion
consists of a single material:
bud:  This is important
 Simple to learn: with new varieties
 Fast to do: when material is in
 High success rates: short supply:
 95-100% common:
 The number 1 option
for the grafter:
A. Budding
 T-budding
 Inverted T-
budding
 Chip budding
 Patch budding
A. Plants which are Budded
 Deciduous fruit trees
 Stone fruits
 Nut trees
 Citrus
 Subtropical fruits
 Climbing fruits
 Roses
 Ornamental trees
B Top grafting
 In top grafting the  Top grafting is
top is removed much slower to
from the rootstock perform than
and the scion budding:
shoot is grafted in  Many styles are
to the top end of complicated to
the rootstock carry out:
stem:  Often used in
 Used both in the spring when t-
field and in bench budding is not
grafting: possible:
B Top grafting
 Examples of
plants top
grafted:
 Avocado
 Feijoa
 Grape
 Passionfruit
 Pecan
 Grevillea Pecan
C Side grafting
 There are a number of species
which do not respond well to top
grafting:
 It appears that once the top is
removed from the rootstock,
uptake of water and mineral
nutrients is restricted:
 This prevents a graft union from
forming
C Side grafting
 In side grafting
the scion is
grafted onto the
side of the stem of
the rootstock:
 This enables the
top to be retained
on the rootstock to
assist in moisture
and nutrient
uptake:
C Side grafting
 Side grafting is
only carried out
on container
grown
rootstocks:
 This means the
grafted
rootstocks can
be grown on in a
warm
greenhouse:
C Side grafting
 With many fruit
trees, side
grafting is
carried out in
early spring:
 The dormant
scion material is
collected in
winter and cold
stored until use:
C Side grafting
 With side grafting
of waxflower, it
can be carried out
almost all year
round:
 The rootstocks
should be in active
growth:
 The scions can also
be in soft, active
growth:
Examples of side grafting
 Conifers  Broadleaved
 Cedars  Maples
 Cypress  Azaleas
 Junipers  Birch
 Spruce  Camellias
 Pines  Euc ficifolia
 Taxus  Magnolias
 Oaks
 Viburnums
D Approach grafting
 Usually considered to be the last
resort in grafting:
 The other grafting systems are
examples of “DETACHED SCION
GRAFTING”:
 In approach grafting the scion
remains attached to the mother
plant until after the graft union
has formed:
D Approach grafting
 Approach grafting is often
considered to be an old fashioned
horticultural curiosity:
 However, it is now often used in
north Queensland in the grafting
of exotic tropical fruits:
 It is also used in the grafting of
European tomato varieties onto
disease resistant rootstocks:
Cutting grafts
 Grafting onto  The development
unrooted of a root system
on the unrooted
cuttings is an
cutting occurs
innovation simultaneously
designed to with the healing of
eliminate the the graft union:
production  Both processes
period of the need the same
rootstock: greenhouse
environment:
Grafting machines
 A number of grafting machines
have been developed to speed up
the grafting process:
 It also enables the grafting to be
carried out by less skilled staff:
 Careful grading of grafting
material is required so that the
scions and rootstocks are
matched in diameter:
Tying materials for grafting
 A number of tying materials are
available for securing the graft
union:
 The choice depends on the
grafting technique and the post-
grafting environment to be used:
 The main aim in tying the union is
to keep moisture from entering
the graft union:
Tying materials for grafting
 With t-budding, simple rubber
budding patches are often used:
 The rubber is biodegradable and
they will disintegrate within 4-6
weeks:
 PVC budding tape is widely used
but must be cut off after the graft
union has formed:
Tying materials for grafting
 At UQ Gatton we use the medical
laboratory tape “PARAFILM”:
 This is a thin, stretchable tape
which seals the graft union very
effectively against the entry of
water:
 It also degrades rapidly so it does
not need to be removed: