Influence of Grafting Methods on Production of Grape ‘Campbell Early’/3309C Nursery Stock

Abstract

In grape nursery stock production, grafting success and nursery quality depend on the grafting materials, method, attention paid to grafting, grafting time, ambient conditions, and post-transplanting management. Recently, various grafting methods have been employed in grapevine propagation. This study aimed to determine the most effective grafting methods for producing high-quality grape nursery stock of 'Campbell Early'/3309C. Grafting operations were conducted in early April using four grafting techniques, i.e., tongue grafting, veneer grafting, cleft grafting, and omega machine grafting. The data showed that the omega machine grafting was fast and yielded a high proportion of nursery stock for sale. Tongue grafting resulted in the highest grafting success, tree height, and percentage of nursery stock for sale and special grade nursery stock. The veneer grafting produced a high shoot diameter and a low percentage of low grade (unsaleable in Korea) nursery stock. The percentage of low-grade nursery stock and the expected yield of low-grade nursery trees were high in both tongue and cleft grafting. Based on the results from this study, the most effective grafting method of grape 'Campbell Early'/3309C nursery stock in the nursery production company was the veneer grafting or omega machine grafting.