Standardization of Rootstock for Almond Propagation under Sub Tropical conditions

Author: Navroop Kaur and Amarjeet Kaur

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Abstract

Recently, due to an increase in price of various commodities, almond cultivation has become a very profitable culture. This has changed the scenario of not only the productive sector, but also for breeders who have to face the challenges for satisfaction of the increased demands of commercial sector. There is a great need to produce the superior planting material. For successful vegetative propagation and trait improvement grafting is a common practice in horticultural plants. Taxonomic proximity between the root stock and scion acts as a general necessary condition for successful grafting and long survival of grafted plants. A close relationship between rootstock and scion is essential for the success of a grafting operation. The rootstock/scion compatibility is the most essential factor for their better performance and longevity in grafted plants. Graft incompatibility occurs due to graft type, unfavorable physiological responses across the graft union, transmission of virus and anatomical deformities of vascular tissue at the graft union. Hence an appropriate grafting method through a suitable rootstock is a prerequisite for successful grafting operation. The research study investigated different seed rootstocks (Kala Amritsari, Kabal Green Gage and Sharbati) and their reactions on almond cv. California Paper Shell through tongue and wedge grafting and their effect on success and survival of the grafts along with their vegetative growth. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design with factorial arrangement in three replications in which the original factor of scion cultivar and sub factor of rootstock type was applied. The obtained results indicate that among propagation methods, tongue grafting was found to be superior to wedge grafting, whereas, among rootstocks Sharbati was superior to Kala Amritsar and Kabal Green Gage for days to bud break, graft success, survival, plant height, leaf production, leaf area, stock and scion girth. The trend of this study is the provision of the opportunity for further research in the productive year of the almond cultivation under sub tropical conditions.

Keywords

Girth, Grafting, Propagation, Rootstock, Sharbati, Sprouting, Success

Conclusion

The outcome of the present research indicated that the rootstocks used and propagation methods had significantly influenced the nursery plant growth performance of almond cultivar California Paper Shell on Sharbati rootstock. It proved to be an outstanding among other rootstocks and propagation methods under the agro-climatic conditions of Amritsar in terms of grafting success and vegetative growth of the grafts so formed. Facilitation of superior planting material availability on commercial basis will help in boosting the production of almond plants on a large scale.

References

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How to cite this article

Navroop Kaur and Amarjeet Kaur (2023). Standardization of Rootstock for Almond Propagation under Sub Tropical Conditions. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(1): 302-307.