MSc

The studies on the vegetative propagation of mango were carried out at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period from May 1982 to June 1984.
The studies consisted of two techniques of grafting, viz. stone grafting and veneer grafting. It was possible to standardize these techniques under Kerala conditions for the first time after the detail studies of the factors like season of grafting, effect of procuring of scions, effect of age of stock and scion, varietal response, effect of duration of storage of scion sticks and methods of raising rootstocks.
The results indicated that the survival of the stone grafts was best when the grafting was done during August. In case of veneer grafting, no significant difference in the survival of graft was observed during August, September and October although September was most congeneal month for grafting. Both the techniques of grafting revealed, the superiority of 10 days and 15 days prior defoliation of scions over no defoliation treatment. But the difference in the survival of grafts between the treatments with the defoliation 10 days and 15 days prior to grafting was not significant.
In another experiment, the best result was achieved when four month scion was stone grafted on five days old stock material. However, the use of five days and 10 days old stock did not reveal any significant difference in the ultimate survival of the grafts. Similarly, the comparison of different age of stock and scions with regard to their effects on survival of veneer grafts proved, grafting with six month old scion using rootstocks 14 months old would give best results. On examining the extension growth of scion its linear nature was confirmed. The linear growth rate was found to be different for different treatment s in the present study.
The scion varieties responded differently in the final success in veneer grafting. The promising effect on the graft take was noticed when the varieties, viz. Mundappa, Alphonso,Bangalora and Bennet Alphonso were adopted for veneer grafting. In varieties like Neelum and Banganapalli veneer grafting, did not appear to be satisfactory in mango under Kerala conditions.

Any kind of scion stick i.e. prior defoliated or freshly defoliated when stored for a period of nine days at room temperature, did not prove significant difference in the survival of veneer grafts. However, gunny bag moss medium as wrapping material for scion shoots was found better than polythene moss medium. The modified trench method of grafting substantially improved the survival rate of polybagged veneer grafts.