Graft Compatibility among Chestnut (Castanea) Species

Abstract

<jats:p>Graft compatibility was investigated for 15 Chinese chestnut (<jats:italic>Castanea mollissima</jats:italic> Bl.) cultivars, nine American chestnut [<jats:italic>C. dentata</jats:italic> (Marsh.) Borkh.] selections, six Japanese chestnut (<jats:italic>C. crenata</jats:italic> Sieb.) cultivars, and two putative Japanese hybrids on two known rootstocks of Chinese chestnut. Intraspecific grafting of Chinese chestnut resulted in 80% success after two growing seasons. An unusual anatomical structure of the chestnut stem had a significant effect on graft success. The phloem fiber bundles related to graft failure are described in the study. Interspecific grafts of seven American and five Japanese chestnut selections resulted in ≥70% success. The putative Japanese hybrids had a significantly lower success rate (&lt;50%) regardless of rootstocks. A marked graft incompatibility was found in one Japanese/Chinese and two American/Chinese combinations. Graft incompatibility related to morphological abnormalities at the graft union was also observed in interspecific grafts. Comparisons of cambial isoperoxidase isozymes between successful and unsuccessful grafts did not support the hypothesis that peroxidase isozymes are indicators of rootstock-scion compatibility. The results suggest that genetic incompatibility is not a major cause of graft failure in Chinese chestnut.</jats:p>

Stem Anatomy and Grafting Success of Chinese Chestnut Scions on ‘AU-Cropper’ and ‘Qing’ Seedling Rootstocks

“…Examination of unsuccessful unions revealed that scion and rootstock cambia were mismatched. In contrast to our results, Huang et al (1994) reported the presence of only four ''phloem fiber bundles'' in Chinese chestnut stems. Also, high percentages of grafting failure (96% to 100%) were attributed to disrupted cambial continuity purportedly caused by a proliferation of fiber tissue when side veneer cuts were made through phloem fibers.…”

“…Although grafting techniques were not directly compared in this study, others reported varying results using different budding and grafting methods (Balta et al, 1993;Bazzigher et al, 1984;Huang et al, 1994;Pereira-Lorenzo and Fernanez-Lopez, 1997;Serdar and Soylu, 2005). In our work, 75% grafting success was achieved using the whip and tongue technique when moisture was controlled in early spring.…”

“…Excessive sap flow in walnut and grape interferes with healing after grafting but can be reduced by making small cuts below the graft union or by withholding water from container-grown plants (Coggeshall and Beineke, 1997;Hartmann et al, 2011). Huang et al (1994) investigated graft compatibility of various chestnut species. Grafting success of various American (Castanea dentata Borkh.)…”

The Structure of Graft Unions in European Chestnut Using Different Grafting Methods

“…Views of the graft unions in the hypocotyl, epicotyl and inverted radicle grafting methods, 6 months after grafting. 1988; Huang et al, 1994;Serdar and Soylu, 2004). In the present study, no dense necrotic layers were observed between the stock and scion tissues.…”

Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) as a Niche Crop in the Central Region of the United States

“…Because the chestnut gall wasp has spread to many of the states where nurseries are located, the supply of scion wood originating from non-infested locations is scarce. Grafting failure or low percentages of successful graft unions have also limited availability of chestnut trees (Huang et al, 1994;Warmund and Coggeshall, 2009). Graft union formation is enhanced when budding is done in the latter part of September as compared with budding dates in late July or August.…”