grafted

Grafted is the past participle of graft and is used to describe plants or tissues that have undergone grafting, a technique that joins tissues from two organisms to enable growth or function. In horticulture, grafting typically binds a scion to a rootstock, forming a single plant. In medicine, a graft refers to tissue or an organ transplanted from one individual to another.

In plant grafting, the aim is to propagate cultivars, repair damaged trees, or combine desirable traits such as fruit quality with rootstock vigor or disease resistance. Common methods include whip-and-tongue grafts, cleft grafts, bark grafts, and budding (shield or T-budding). Successful grafting requires accurate alignment of the cambium layer so vascular continuity can be established and the graft can become a unified plant. Careful timing, site preparation, and environmental conditions influence compatibility and healing.

In medical contexts, grafts address tissue loss due to injury or disease. Skin grafts cover burns or wounds; bone grafts support healing; organ or tissue grafts replace lost function. Grafts may be autografts (from the patient), allografts (from a donor), or, less commonly, xenografts (from another species). Rejection risk varies with tissue type and immune compatibility, and immunosuppressive strategies may be employed. Successful grafts require revascularization, integration with host tissue, and ongoing monitoring for complications such as infection or failure at the graft site.

Grafting has ancient roots in agriculture, with early practices documented in East Asia and the Middle East. It enabled the reliable propagation of fruit trees and grapevines, contributing to agricultural diversity and production. Modern grafting benefits from advances in plant physiology, materials, and, in medicine, tissue engineering and transplantation science.