Plant propagation by budding involves inserting a single bud from a desired plant (the scion) into the bark of a compatible rootstock plant, allowing the bud to grow and eventually produce a plant with the characteristics of the scion while benefiting from the root system of the rootstock.
Budding is a specialized grafting technique valued for its efficiency and success rates in specific situations. It's commonly used in fruit tree propagation and rose breeding. Here's a breakdown of the process:
Understanding Budding
- Scion (Budwood): This is the desired plant variety from which the bud is taken. It determines the fruit, flower, or other characteristics of the new plant.
- Rootstock: This provides the root system for the new plant. It can influence the plant's size, disease resistance, and cold hardiness.
- Compatibility: Crucially, the scion and rootstock must be compatible for a successful graft.
Steps in Budding
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Selecting Budwood: Choose healthy, disease-free budwood from the desired scion plant. Buds are usually collected during the dormant season.
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Preparing the Rootstock: The rootstock is prepared by making a cut in the bark. Common budding cuts include:
- T-budding: A T-shaped cut is made through the bark of the rootstock.
- Chip budding: A chip of bark and wood is removed from both the rootstock and the scion, allowing the cambium layers to align.
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Inserting the Bud: The bud is carefully removed from the budwood and inserted into the prepared cut on the rootstock. In T-budding, the bark flaps are opened, and the bud is slid underneath. In chip budding, the bud chip is precisely matched and fitted into the removed chip area on the rootstock.
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Securing the Bud: The bud is tightly wrapped with budding tape, grafting rubber, or other suitable material to hold it in place and prevent drying out. This ensures good contact between the cambium layers of the scion and rootstock.
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Callus Formation: Over time, the cambium layers of the scion and rootstock fuse together, forming a callus. This process creates a vascular connection, allowing the bud to receive water and nutrients from the rootstock.
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Removing the Wrapping: After several weeks, the wrapping is removed to allow the bud to grow.
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Encouraging Bud Growth: Once the bud has taken, the rootstock above the bud union may be removed to encourage the scion to grow.
Advantages of Budding
- Efficiency: Budding uses only a small amount of scion material, making it economical.
- High Success Rate: When performed correctly, budding often has a high success rate.
- Suitable for Specific Plants: It is well-suited for propagating certain fruit trees, roses, and other woody plants.
Example
Imagine you have a delicious apple tree ('Honeycrisp') and want to create more of that variety. You could use budding to graft a 'Honeycrisp' bud onto a rootstock that is disease-resistant and well-adapted to your local soil conditions. The resulting tree will produce 'Honeycrisp' apples while benefitting from the rootstock's desirable traits.
