Effect of chemicals on success and survival of softwood grafts on custard apple (Annona squamosa L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of of chemicals on success and survival of softwood grafts on Custard apple (Annona squamosa L.)” was carried out at Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, and Badnapur. Tal. Badnapur, Dist. - Jalna during the year 2017- 2018. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with eleven treatments and replicated thrice, comprising two treatments of GA3 concentrations i.e. (125 and 100 ppm), two treatments of NAA concentrations i.e. (125 and 100 ppm), Michnell-32 concentrations i.e. (0.5% and 1.0%), two treatments of Urea concentrations i.e. (0.5% and 1.0%), two treatments of KNO3 concentrations i.e. (0.5% and 1.0%) and control. chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, number of shoots, days required for sprouting, success percentage of grafting, final survival percentage of grafts and root parameters (viz. fresh weight of roots, fresh weight of shoots, fresh weight of root: shoot ratio, dry weight of roots, dry weight of shoots, dry weight of root: shoot ratio were recorded. Days required for sprouting (21.33 days), success percentage of grafting (92.30%) at 30 DAG, final survival percentage of grafts (87.17%) at 90 DAG, number of primary roots (43.37), number of secondary roots (24.62), number of roots (28.88), fresh weight of roots (32.47 g), fresh weight of shoots (52.15 g), fresh weight of root: shoot ratio (0.62), dry weight of roots (13.60 g), dry weight of shoots (21.28 g), dry weight of root: shoot ratio (0.64) recorded at 90 DAG and minimum values these attributes were observed in control (T11). Maximum chlorophyll a (2.08 mg/g), chlorophyll b (0.79 mg/g), total chlorophyll (2.87 mg/g) content was observed with foliar application of (T2) Urea 1.0% and minimum values were observed in control (T11) recorded at 160 DAS. Maximum tertiary roots (18.36) and length of root (43.37cm) was noted with foliar application of NAA 125 ppm.