Farmers guide to grafting techniques for MICCA project

Grafting is a technique widely used in horticulture and forestry for the mass production of selected plants, and is one of the most successful methods for propagating The technique involves formation of a union between scions taken from desirable mother trees and rootstocks that are normally young, healthy seedlings established in the nursery. Grafting can, however, also be carried out onto trees that are already established in the field. As well as allowing the cloning of superior individuals, if done with the right plant material grafting can shorten the period between field establishment and when a tree flowers and fruits. This is important for fruit trees, since earlier maturity means revenues can be realized more quickly by farmers. To achieve a successful graft, it is important to have healthy, actively growing rootstocks, as well as scions with active (swollen) buds that have not yet opened. Normally, scions and rootstocks should be of the same diameter, in order to align cambium layers. This is required for the formation of the graft union, to allow the effective movement between roots and shoots of the nutrients and water needed for plant growth.

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