Okuleren

Okuleren is a horticultural propagation technique used to propagate a desired cultivar by grafting a single bud from a scion onto a compatible rootstock. The term is common in Dutch horticulture, and in English the practice is usually called budding or bud grafting. The method aims to combine the favorable traits of the scion (such as fruit quality) with the vigor, hardiness, or disease resistance of the rootstock, while maintaining the genetic identity of the bud.

The basic approach involves placing a bud from the scion onto the rootstock in such a way that the cambial layers of both parts align, allowing the tissues to fuse. There are two widely used variants: shield budding, where a shield-shaped piece containing a bud is cut from the scion and inserted into a matching cut on the rootstock, and T-budding, where a T-shaped incision is made in the bark and the bud is slipped under the bark flaps. Both methods require clean cuts, healthy plant material, and careful alignment to encourage successful union.

Timing is important and depends on climate and species. Budding is typically performed when the rootstock’s bark can slip easily, often in late winter to early spring in temperate regions; in some climates or with certain species, summer budding is practiced. Aftercare includes securing the bud with grafting tape or similar material to prevent desiccation and pest damage, and monitoring for callus formation and bud growth.

Okuleren is widely used in orchard establishment and maintenance for stone fruits, apples, pears, and some citrus species. It offers rapid multiplication, efficient use of rootstock vigor, and the ability to propagate specific cultivars without grafting entire limbs.