Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
SD Ranaware, SL Ghavale, KV Malshe, SB Thorat, PM Haldankar and AV Mane

Abstract:
Field experiment on effect of season of softwood grafting on grafts success and subsequent growth in guava (Psidium guajava L.) Cv. Sardar (L-49)’ was carried out at College of Horticulture, Dr. B.S.K.K.V. Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri during the year 2022-2023 to find out the appropriate season of softwood grafting for minimized the days to sprouting, higher grafts success percentage, final survival percentage and subsequent growth of guava grafts under Konkan agro-climatic condition. Experiment was laid out in randomized block design with sixteen treatments viz., T₁:Grafting in 1^st fortnight of August, T₂:Grafting in 2^nd fortnight of August, T₃:Grafting in 1^st fortnight of September, T₄:Grafting in 2^nd fortnight of September, T₅:Grafting in 1^st fortnight of October, T₆:Grafting in 2^nd fortnight of October, T₇:Grafting in 1^st fortnight of November, T₈:Grafting in 2^nd fortnight of November, T₉:Grafting in 1^st fortnight of December, T₁₀:Grafting in 2^nd fortnight of December, T₁₁:Grafting in 1^st fortnight of January, T₁₂:Grafting in 2^nd fortnight of January, T₁₃:Grafting in 1^st fortnight of February, T₁₄:Grafting in 2^nd fortnight of February, T₁₅:Grafting in 1^st fortnight of March, T₁₆:Grafting in 2^nd fortnight of March which were replicated 2 times. The minimum days to sprouting, sprouting pattern, sprouting and survival percentage and subsequent growth parameters were measured. Results revealed that among different season of softwood grafting in guava, the grafting in 1^st fortnight of November (T₇) were found significant and superior for most of the parameters including minimum days to sprouting (16.0 days), maximum sprouting percentage (73.0%), and subsequent growth parameters like graft height (63.58 cm), stem girth (9.6 mm), number of leaves, leaf area, root and shoot parameters, AGR, RGR, survival percentage (68.0%) and root volume, whereas minimum value of most of the parameters were observed in the season where grafting operation performed in 2^nd fortnight of March (T₁₆). Overall the significant and superior results were found in the season where grafting performed in 1^st fortnight of November (T₇) might be due to availability of superior conditions in this season like temperature and relative humidity, which are required for sprouting, survival percentage and subsequent growth parameters. Furthermore, these experimental findings are based on only one season data; therefore there is need for further confirmation of the results to minimize sprouting time, higher sprouting and survival percentage and subsequent growth parameters in of guava grafts.