Graft-take Success in Walnut Under Controlled Conditions and Plant Development in the Nursery

Abstract

The production of walnut nursery plants is a complex process, being dependent upon a range of factors that affect graft-take success and behaviour of walnut plants in the nursery. The experiment included two parts. Three different treatments were used in the heated room under controlled air temperature and humidity conditions: Treatment 1-grafting without paraffin treatment of the scion and graft union, coupled with covering the graft with sawdust up to the top of the scion; Treatment 2-grafting involving paraffin treatment of the scion and graft union, coupled with covering the graft with sawdust up to the top of the scion; and Treatment 3-grafting involving paraffin treatment of the scion and graft union, coupled with covering the graft with both sawdust up to the top of the scion and polyethylene foil. The treatments were evaluated for their effect on graft-take success. Graft planting in the nursery was followed by two treatments: treatment without foliar fertilisation and treatment with foliar fertilisation. Under controlled conditions, treatment 3 induced a higher graft-take success as compared to the other two treatments, whereas foliar fertilisation in the nursery had a positive effect on the survival, production of class 1 plants and vegetative growth of walnut plants.