Studies on grafting various types of shoots as scion to enhance production of orthotropic grafts in kokum

摘要

Kokum (Garcinia indica Choisy) is an evergreen tree spice native to India. Kokum fruits have tremendous potential owing to its medicinal properties. It is antihelmintic, antiacidic and cardiotonic and possesses antiobesity properties. Kokum seed contains ample quantity of fat, which remain solid at room temperature and is used in pharmaceuticals and confectionaries. Kokum tree is dioecious in nature. Therefore, seedlings are not good for raising yielding trees and hence, vegetative propagation is needed. Preliminary trials have indicated good success of soft wood grafting for rapid propagation of kokum (Haldankar et al, 1992). However, the canopy features of the graft is a major constraint in its massive vegetative multiplication. When orthotropic shoots are used as scion for grafting, the resulting grafts grow tall with drooping branches forming a conical shaped canopy like that of mother plant, whereas, when plagiotropic scion is used for grafting, the resulting graft becomes bushy. The yield ofthis plagiotropic grafts are low as it is unable to use the vertical space. Availability of orthotropic shoots are extremely limited since only a few orthotropic shoots appear on top of the plant, which are presently used for grafting. Hence, the trial was conducted to study the feasibility of grafting of other shoots which are reported to show orthotropic behaviour after grafting, such as root suckers and trunk sprouts.