The Effects of Grafting Times and Methods on Graft Success and Plant Growth in Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa, A. Chev)

This study was carried out to determine the effects of four different grafting times (15th march, 5th april, 25th april and 15th may) and three different grafting methods (whip and splice grafting and chip budding) on graft success and plant growth in kiwifruit seedling production. in this study, while the grafting times significantly affected the bud take ratio, the grafting methods were insignificant. moreover, the grafting methods significantly affected the bud sprouting ratio and graft success but the grafting times were insignificant. the significant effects of both grafting times and grafting methods on the leaf number and leaf area and total leaf area, shoot length and diameter were determined in the study. in terms of investigated characteristics, the better results were obtained from the whip and splice grafting methods than the chip budding methods. the 15th march was determined as the best grafting time in terms of bud take ratio (99.7%). the interaction of grafting times and grafting methods were to be significant by virtue of investigated characteristics in the study. the 15th march was the best grafting time and the whip and splice were the best grafting methods. as a result of this study, for a large amount of high quality kiwifruit seedling production the whip or splice grafting methods should be used and grafting carried out around the 15th march.