BUDDING
The process of connecting scion
which is a bud in rootstock in a manner such that they may unite and grow
successfully as one plant is termed as budding. Budding is practiced during the period when active sap
flow is going on and the plant is growing successfully.
Spring: March to April, Summer: May
to June, Rainy: July to September are considered suitable for budding.
Rootstock of 1 to 2 year old having pencil thickness is selected for budding.
Selection
of Scion Wood
1. The
condition of the buds in the scion wood is very important for the success of
budding
2. If
the bud starts growing before the union takes place, the budding will not be a
success.
3. When
the bud is very much under dormant condition, it takes several months for
sprouting.
4. It
is important that the buds should be in such a condition of physiological
maturity that they start sprouting after about 10 t0 20 days of budding.
Bud
selection
The bud stick should always be
collected from vigorous, productive, true to type plants free from undesirable
bud mutation and bud transmissible diseases. Well matured, round twigs of the
current year’s growth are selected for collection of buds. The bud sticks are
collected just before they are used
Precautions
1. Avoid
scions with undeveloped or over developed buds.
2. Use
sharp secateurs or scissors for cutting the leaf lamina to avoid damage to the
buds.
Commercial
methods of budding are
T-budding
or Shield budding
This method is known as T-budding as
the cuts given on the stock are of the shape of the letter ‘T’ and shield
budding as the bud piece appears like a shield. This method is widely used for
propagating many ornamental plants. This method is generally limited to the
stocks that are about 0.75 to 2.50 cm in diameter and are actively growing so
that the bark separates readily from the wood. eg; Rose
Procedure
1. After
selecting the stock plant, select an internodal region with smooth bark preferably
at a height of 15-25 cm from ground level.
2. Give
a vertical cut through the bark to a length of about 2.5 to 3.75 cm.
3. At
the top of this vertical cut, give another horizontal cut ( 1 cm or 1/3 the
circumference of the stem) in such a way that the 2 cuts resemble the letter
‘T’.
4. Lift
the bark, piece on either side of the vertical cut for the insertion of the
bud.
5. Select
the required bud stick.
6. Start
a slicing cut about 1.5 cm below the bud, continue it upward and under the bud
to about 2.5 cm above the bud.
7. Give
another horizontal out about 1 cm above the bud.
8. Remove
the traces of wood if any, attached to the bud.
9. Insert
the bud between the flaps of bark on the stock with the help of budding knife
in such a way that the horizontal cut of the shield matches the horizontal cut
on the stock.
10. Wrap the
bud and stock tightly with polythene strip exposing only the bud.
2.
Inverted T-budding
In heavy rainfall areas, water
running down the stem of the stock may enter the T-cut and soak under the bark
preventing the healing of the bud piece. Under such conditions ‘inverted T’
budding may give better results as it is more likely to shed excess water. The
inverted T-budding procedure is same as that of T budding except that the
horizontal cut on the stock is made at the bottom of the vertical cut rather
than at the top. eg. Rose.
Procedure
1. On
the selected stock plant give a horizontal cut at the bottom of the given
vertical cut representing inverted T.
2. Select
the required bud stick.
3. Start
a slice out 1.5 cm above the bud and continue it downward and under the bud to
about 2.5 cm below the bud.
4. Give
another horizontal out about 1 cm below the bud and remove the bud piece.
5. Insert the bud between the flaps of bark on the stock and push upwards till the horizontal cut of the shield matches the horizontal cut in the stock.
By
Ms.M.Darneshree
Assistant Professor
