graftning

Graftning, or grafting, is a horticultural technique used to join tissues from two plants so they grow as one. The scion, a shoot or bud from the desired cultivar, is grafted onto a rootstock that provides the root system and often influences vigor, size, and disease resistance. For a successful graft, the cambial layers of the scion and rootstock must align to form a continuous vascular connection.

Common methods include whipped-graft and tongue grafting, where matching cuts on the scion and rootstock interlock; cleft grafting, in which a split rootstock receives a scion; budding (T-budding), where a single bud is inserted under a bark flap; and approach grafting, where two plants are joined before the union heals. Each method suits different sizes, species, and seasons; timing is often in late winter to early spring for dormant plants, though some techniques work in summer or autumn.

Uses and advantages include true-to-type propagation of cultivars, the combination of desirable traits from different plants (such as disease resistance with preferred fruit), and size control or vigor adjustment through rootstock choice. Limitations include graft incompatibility between species or cultivars, imperfect cambial contact, desiccation, and vulnerability to disease at the union.

History and scope: grafting has ancient roots in orchard and horticultural practice, notably in Asia and Europe, and remains essential for fruit trees, roses, and many ornamentals today.