Vegetative propagation of guava through wedge grafting

In the present investigation, defoliation time of scion shoot was evaluated to ascertain the high percentage of grafts and save time as well as labour expenditure for grafting operation. Three defoliation time of scion i.e. 0 (day on the grafting) 4 and 8 days prior to grafting was tried throughout the investigation period. Out of three periods of scion defoliation prior to grafting operation, not much significant difference was observed in respect of success percentage of grafts either in greenhouse as well as open field conditions. However, defoliation of scion on the day of grafting and 8 days prior to grafting gave better success over the scion defoliated 4 days prior to grafting. In case of scion defoliated 8 days prior to grafting, the success ranged between 90–99 per cent in the month of October to March. Among the different verities, the maximum success of grafts was observed in Sardar closely followed by Allahabad Safeda and Lalit, respectively. Similarly, among different months of grafting operations, when the grafting operation was performed during April, May, October, November, December, January and February gave higher successes (94.5–99.9%) specially on scion defoliated on the day of grafting followed by 8 days prior to grafting in green house. Winter season was found to be much conscience for higher success of grafting irrespective of time of scion defoliation. The Capping of grafts was found to be instrumental for higher success of grafts either in greenhouse as well as in open field conditions. In Allahabad Safeda and Sardar 99% success of graft was recorded when grafting was performed in the month of October, November, February and March in greenhouse, Similarly, in open field conditions, the success of grafts ranged from 28–99% being maximum (99%) in all 3 cultivars when grafting was performed in the month of February. Utilizing scion shoots which was defoliated on the day of grafting with capping of grafts with polytube showed excellent performance towards success of grafts either in greenhouse as well as in open field conditions especially during winter season. It has been proved that without polyethylene cap, it not possible to enhanced success percentage of grafts either in greenhouse as well as in open field conditions. Overall, enhancement of graft percentage was more in greenhouse as compare to open field condition. Utilizing polycap exhibited better success percentage of grafts even under greenhouse as compared to without covering the grafts with polycap.