Effect of different methods, time and environmental conditions on grafting in walnut

An experiment was conduced during 2005–06 to study the effect of different methods of grafting viz tongue, wedge and veneer with three different timings viz, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th week of February under polyhouse conditions in walnut. The same experiment was repeated in field conditions with same methods of grafting but with three different timings viz 4^th week of February, 1^st and 2^nd week of March. The results indicated that under polyhouse, the maximum grafting success (76.66%) was obtained through wedge method of grafting followed by (70.00%) through tongue grafting when done in 4^th week of February. When the grafting was done in 3^rd week, maximum success (66.66%) was achieved using wedge grafting followed by tongue grafting (63.33%). Veneer grafting resulted in maximum (53.33%) success when performed in 4^th week of February. The grafting success was comparatively quite low in case of field conditions. In this case only 20.00 per cent success was obtained through wedge grafting done in 1^st and 2^nd week of March. The higher grafting success in wedge and tongue grafting recorded could be due to the favorable temperature and relative humidity at the time of grafting and rapid flow of sap in stock and scion that might have favored the healing process and established the continuity of cambial and vascular tissues for the graft take. Significant affects were also noticed on shoot length, number of leaves, number of leaflets, leaf area and days to leaf fall.