Influence of rootstocks age and grafting methods on the vegetative propagation of soursop

Abstract

The use of grafting as a vegetative propagation method for soursop (Annona muricata L.) is not an usual practice among nurseries and growers of this anonaceae in the State of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil. Different budding (shield and patch) and grafting (whip and cleft) methods were tried on 10 and 12 months old soursop seedlings, under nursery conditions. Each parcel was constituted of 10 plants nearly the same size and the same stem diameter for each age. To assure that the four different types of grafting would be done at the same time, the sowing of soursop seeds was done at two-month interval. The vegetative propagation of soursop by budding methods was always better than grafting. However, with 12 months old seedlings patch budding was superior to shield budding. Percentage of take was 97.5% with former method.