Effect of Different Grafting Time and Growing Conditions on Success of Wedge Grafting in Custard Apple (Annona squamosa L.) cv. Sindhan

The present investigation evaluated the effect of six grafting times and three growing conditions on the success of wedge grafting in custard apple cv. Sindhan. Conducted from February to July 2024 at the College of Horticulture, Jagudan, the experiment followed a factorial CRD with 18 treatment combinations and three replications. Grafting was done at 15-day intervals from late February to early May under shade net, naturally ventilated polyhouse and fan and pad polyhouse conditions. Under grafting time, 3rd week of March (T3) was showed best grafting time, with fastest sprouting (11.53 days), highest sprouting (90.56%), better growth (more leaves, longer and thicker scions) at 45 and 90 DAG and highest graft survival (90.56%) at 90 days after grafting. Among the growing conditions, naturally ventilated polyhouse (G2) gave better results with faster sprouting (14.82 days), higher sprouting (76.11%), higher growth at 45 and 90 DAG and 76.11% graft survival at 90 DAG. The best combination was T3G2 (3rd week of March in naturally ventilated), showing fastest sprouting (10 days), highest sprouting (93.33%), best growth and highest graft survival (93.33%) at 90 DAG. Based on results obtained from present investigation, it can be concluded that wedge grafting done at 3rd week of March in naturally ventilated polyhouse recorded better growth and higher graft survival per cent.