Improved Success of Persian Walnut Grafting Under Environmentally Controlled Conditions

Different budding methods (patch, shield and chip) were compared under controlled and field conditions using different native varieties of Persian walnut (Juglans rejia L.) during June 2005, in Nieriz, Fars province, Iran. Controlling temperature and humidity in a greenhouse improved grafting success considerably in all grafting methods compared with results under field conditions. The highest success rate was obtained with patch (91.0%) followed by shield (31.1%) and chip (19.1%) budding under greenhouse conditions versus 25.0, 15.0 and 10.0% under field conditions, respectively. Similar trends were also observed for callus formation and scion growth. Patch budding showed the highest callus formation and scion growth followed by shield and chip budding under both conditions. The genotype used did not affect grafting take using shield and patch budding excluding the N3 selection which had the highest graft success using the shield budding under greenhouse conditions. The best results were obtained by patch budding, under greenhouse conditions in all of the tested genotypes. (C) 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.