Effect of clonal rootstocks and heights of grafting on growth and leaf nutrient status of nursery apple plants

AbstractInvestigation was undertaken to study the influence of different grafting heights and clonal rootstocks on vegetative growth and leaf nutrient of Vance Delicious and Starkrimson apple cultivars. Two scion cultivars i.e., Vance Delicious (standard type) and Starkrimson (spur type) were tongue grafted on two clonal rootstocks i.e., M-9 (dwarf) and MM-106 (semi-vigorous) at five different heights, i.e., 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm and 30 cm. The results obtained revealedthat apple cultivar Vance Delicious grafted on clonal rootstock MM-106 at 20 cm height had highest graft take success (92.33%), highest number of leaves (43.00), leaf area (25.20 cm2), final height from graft union (826.0 mm), leaf nitrogen (2.17%), phosphorus (0.20%) and potassium (1.48%)content. The cultivar Starkrimson grafted on M-9 rootstock at 15 cm height also resulted in highest graft take success (92.33%). It was concluded that apple cvs. Vance Delicious and Starkrimson grafted at 20 cm height on clonal rootstocks M-9 and MM-106 resulted in better growth and higher accumulation of leaf nutrients closely followed by these cultivars grafted at 15 cm height; hence should be grafted at these heights in the nursery for better subsequent plant growth.