Quality plant material plays an important role in obtaining optimum

economic yield with marketable quality produce under various biotic

and abiotic stress conditions. This is an important aspect in

horticultural crops having long productive life like grapes.

Some quality standards regarding rootstock and scion plant

material have been advocated at national level and documented for

the benefit of grape nurseries and grape growers.

Introduction:

Quality of grape grafts is greatly determined by the quality of mother

plants used as rootstock as well as selection of scion. Quality of

mother plants is maintained by:

•Planting in separate block for selected mother plants of both

rootstock and scion grape varieties

•Using authentic planting material and proper management of these

plants like prevention from pests and diseases, avoiding imbalanced

growth, providing appropriate amount of nutrition, etc.

Mother Plants

• Varieties selected must have longer productive life, greater

potential for yield and good quality of produce.

• Plants should be from true-to-type progeny, healthy and free from

diseases and pests infestation and physiological disorders.

Mother Plants

Grape Nursery: Mother Plant Block

Selection of appropriate root stock is very important in successful

grape grafts as well as Grape nursery. The selected rootstock

should have following characters like:

• Vigorous root system.

• Compatible with known commercial scion variety,

• Resistant to Phylloxera disease and Nematodes

• Easy to propagate and Tolerant to drought condition.

Root Stock Variety:

Grape Rootstock:

In-situ plantation of Root stock Cutting in Grape

The Graft:

• Selection of proper stage and age of scion sticks is necessary for

successful and healthy graft. The rootstock and scion must be vigorous,

healthy without disease and pest infestation and without any physical injury.

• Bud sticks and rootstock must have similar girth for better union and of

appropriate thickness and maturity have to be selected for grafting in case

of both rootstock and scion varieties.

• Scion sticks and rootstock are initially grown under controlled and standard

conditions for uniform and faster union.

The Graft:

Successful Graft of Grapes

Grape Grafts:

Grape Grafts ready for Sale in Nursery

Management of Grafts:

Management of the growing plants after the grafting process is an

important aspect in quality grape nursery production. Maintaining

conditions favorable for growth and graft union can be obtained by:

•Regular spraying for control of pests and diseases on the new

planting material.

•The grafts must be supplied with proper doses of nutrients at right

time.

•The grafts must be irrigated regularly and maintained in warm and

humid climate for proper growth and graft union.

Hardening:

• Planting material in the nursery should be produced under

favorable climatic conditions.

• Plants attain fast growth in nursery due to favorable climatic

conditions, however such seedlings fail to adjust in open fields.

• During hardening process, these nursery plants are gradually

exposed to outdoor environment so that such plants can easily

established in the fields.