GRAFTING OF BREADFRUIT (ARTOCARPUS ALTILIS) USING BREADNUT (ARTOCARPUS CAMANSI) AS ROOT STOCK

I. Medagoda, W.M.C.J. Kumari Chandrarathna
Breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis, is popular in Sri Lanka and it is believed to have been introduced in the 14th century during the Portuguese era. Since it is seedless, it must be vegetatively propagated, usually by root cuttings or root suckers. A successful propagation method is needed to multiply and conserve superior accessions. A study was conducted at Horticultural Crops Research and Development Institute, Gannoruwa to assess the success of cleft grafting using three seedling age classes (30, 45 and 60 d) of breadnut (Artocarpus camansi) as root stock. Randomized Complete Block design was used with 60 plants per treatment with three replicates. Preliminary observations were also made on seasonality and the seed germinability of breadnut. Both species have a similar production pattern with the main season May-July and a minor season September-November. Average germination rate of breadnut was 98% and seeds germinated in 10-15 d. The success rate of grafting was 83% and significant (P=0.05) when seedlings were grafted at 45 d. The grafted plants were ready for field planting in 3 months and fruiting commenced 2½-3 yrs after planting. The trees have low branching habits, were early bearing and the average yield of first harvest was 10 fruits.
Medagoda, I. and Kumari Chandrarathna, W.M.C.J. (2007). GRAFTING OF BREADFRUIT (ARTOCARPUS ALTILIS) USING BREADNUT (ARTOCARPUS CAMANSI) AS ROOT STOCK. Acta Hortic. 757, 149-152
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.757.20
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.757.20
Sri Lanka, cleft graft, vegetative propagation
English

Acta Horticulturae