Standardisation of optimum time of chip budding in apple under cold arid condition of Ladakh

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh) is the most important temperate fruit crop of India. Quality apples can be produced in the cold arid regions upto an altitude of 14,000 ft above MSL. Non availability of quality planting material is the major hurdle in the expansion of apple cultivation in high altitude cold arid areas. There is need for area specific scientific method of propagation for apples as there is no standard method is recommended for the region so far. The chip budding was conducted at Field Research Laboratory (DRDO), Leh, Ladakh, situated at an altitude at 11,500 feet above mean sea level to standardize the optimum time of chip budding in apple under cold arid high altitude conditions of Ladakh. The budding was performed at 15 days interval from 31 January till 31 May during the years 2004 and 2005. Chip budding done on 15 March and 31 March were most successfully resulting in highest graft success, scion growth and maximum yield of saleable plants, therefore, it is recommended that second fortnight of March is the best time for vegetative propagation of apple through chip budding in cold arid conditions of Ladakh.