Enhancing Graft-Take Success in Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) Var. “EVIARC Sweet” Seedlings by Pre-Grafting Treatments

Abstract

The effects of different pre-grafting treatments in enhancing graft-take success in jackfruit seedlings were evaluated. This study aimed to assess the effects of wounding in reducing latex in rootstock and the effects of cold temperature and flowing water as scion pre-grafting treatments. The study was laid out in 2 x 3 factorial experiment arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were composed of different rootstock and scion pre-grafting treatments. Days from grafting to shoot and leaf emergence, percent graft-take, number of leaves, average numbers of shoots per grafted seedling, moisture content of the medium, chemical properties of the scion, chemical properties of the potting medium and agroclimatic data were gathered and subjected to analysis of variance for RCBD. The results revealed that the highest percent graft-take (55%) was obtained from unwounded rootstocks grafted with pre-cured scions with flowing water treatment. Lowest percent graft-take (38.33%) was achieved by wounded rootstocks grafted with pre-cured scions under cold temperature treatment. Pre-cured scions without pregrafting treatment and pre-cured scion with flowing water,regardless of the rootstocks used,revealed the lowest number of days to shoot and leaf emergence. On the contrary, pre-cured scions subjected to cold temperature showed the highest number of days for the shoot and leaf to emerge. Moreover, pre-cured scion with flowing water gave significantly the highest number of shoots and leaves, while pre-cured scions without pre-grafting and cold temperature treatment showed the lowest number of shoots and leaves.