Defn: connecting 2 pieces of plant tissue to grow as one plant Terms: Grafting Defn: connecting 2 pieces of plant tissue to grow as one plant Terms: scion: upper portion (usu. the shoot system) stock: lower portion (usu. the root system) interstock: stem piece between the scion and stock budding: scion is reduced to a bud

Reasons for grafting/budding perpetuating clones that can’t be maintained by other asexual methods obtaining the benefits of a rootstock changing cultivars of established plants (usu. fruit trees) obtaining special plant forms repairing damaged parts of trees virus indexing

Growth activity of stock/scion wood for some methods, best results are obtained when both stock and scion are dormant for other methods, stock and/or scion wood needs to have “slipping” bark

Grafting Methods Bench grafting Field methods Container or field methods Repair grafting

Bench grafting Whip-and-tongue graft Saddle graft

Whip-and-tongue grafting useful for small (1/4-1/2 in.) material, double working (interstocks), root grafting, and bench grafting splice grafting (the tongue is not made) both stock and scion are dormant

Figure 1 Figure 2A (top), Figure 2B (bottom) Figure 3A (left), Figure 3B (right)

Saddle grafting useful for machine grafting, bench grafting of grape and Rhododendron scion and stock should be the same size grafting is done when stock and scion are dormant, then the completed graft is stored in a grafting case until the graft union has healed

Field methods Cleft graft Wedge graft Bark graft Four-flap graft

Cleft grafting useful for topworking fruit trees, crown-grafting grapes the best time is early spring, before active growth wedge grafting allows 1 more scion per stock

Formation of successful graft unions: sequence of events lining up of vascular cambia the wound healing response callus bridge formation new cambium formation vascular tissue formation

Bark grafting Two types (rind and inlay-bark grafts) differ only in prep of stock’s bark, which should be slipping often used in lieu of cleft graft later in the season

Figure 23 Figure 24 Figure 25 Figure 26

Container or field methods Side grafts Approach grafts

defn: (smaller) scion inserted into the side of a (larger) stock Types Side grafting defn: (smaller) scion inserted into the side of a (larger) stock Types side-stub: nursery trees too large for whip-and-tongue, not large enough for cleft side-tongue: useful for broad- and narrow-leaved evergreens (e.g., oriental arbovitae) side-veneer: useful for small potted plants, e.g., upright junipers

Approach grafting two independent plants are grafted together after union, the top of the stock and the base of the scion are removed used when other methods are unsuccessful (e.g., Camellia) often done on plants in containers three methods: spliced-, tongued-, and inlay-approach grafting

Repair grafting Inarching Bridge grafting

Inarching used for repairing damaged roots of a full-grown tree seedlings are planted around the tree during the dormant season, grafting is done in the spring

Bridge grafting used for repairing a damaged trunk early spring (with the bark slipping) is the best time (dormant) scion wood should be 1/4 to 1/2 in. diam.

Technique Date Use Bark grafting Mid-April through mid-May Establish a pollinating variety on a limb of a tree or to completely topwork a tree. Bridge grafting Repair trees girdled above the ground line. Cleft grafting Late February and March Establish a pollinating variety on a limb of a tree or to completely topwork a tree. Limbs should be 1 inch or more in diameter. Inarch grafting Repair trees girdled at or below the ground line. Also used if a root disease is suspected or feared. Saw-kerf grafting February and March On peaches, nectarines and plums to completely topwork a tree. T-budding June through mid-September Propagate actively growing rootstocks in the nursery. May also be used to topwork apple and pear trees up to 3 years old and 1-year-old peach, nectarine and plum trees. Whip grafting February and early March Propagate 1-year-old rootstocks. May also be used to establish a pollinating limb on a young, established tree.

Fruit Method Propagation in Nursery Topworking Tree Repair Apple Whip grafting, June budding or dormant budding T-budding on trees three years old or less, cleft or bark grafting on older trees Bridge or inarch graft Peach, plum and nectarine June budding or dormant Saw-kerf grafting Not normally done Pear For propagating seedlings, whip graft, June budding or dormant budding For propagating on quince rootstocks, the interstem piece should be whip grafted and the scion variety June or dormant budded onto the interstem. T-budding on trees 3 years old or less, cleft or bark grafting on older trees Persimmon June budding, dormant budding or whip grafting Cleft graft or bark graft