Effect of Grafting Method on In Vitro Micrografting Success of Some Sweet Cherry Cultivars

This study was carried out to optimize the micrografting method in sweet cherry using factorial arrangements in completely randomized design with five replications. Experimental factors included; seven ceherry cultivars; Zard, SiaheMashhad, Dovomras, Bing, Pishras, Takdaneh, Hajyousefi, and four grafting methods; wedge grafting without cover (G1C1), cleft grafting without cover (G2C1), wedge grafting with cover (G1C2), cleft grafting with cover (G2C2). Micrografting with microscion was performed and leafy primordia from sweet cherry cultivars grown on Rootstock of “Gisela 6” in vitro conditions. The micrografted plants were cultured on MS medium with 1 mgl1 BAP, and after three weeks successful micrografted plants in the MS medium were transferred to a pot of perlitepeat moss (1: 1) for acclimation. There was significant difference among cultivars only for shoot length index. The main effect of grafting method and the interaction effect of cultivars × grafting method were significant on all indices, except on the micrografting success rates. In all sweet cherry cultivars, G2C2 grafting method had the highest successful grafting rate (42.9%), number of leaves (4.2 leaves), shoot growth (6.5 cm), and the shortest grafting time (2.2 days). Among the sweet cherry cultivars; cv. “Hajyousefi” had successful grafting rate (36.9%), cv. Siahe Mashhad had the shortest grafting time (3 days), and cv. Zard had the highest number of leaves (3.3 leaves), and cv. Dovomras had the greatest shoot growth (5.4 cm).