The rapid peach seedling cultivation techniques that became popular in the 1980s still have some shortcomings, such as timing of budding, cutting anvil procedures, and bud height. Through further experimentation, we have developed four key technologies to improve peach tree grafting, with promising results.
First, seedlings are planted and watered as early as possible in December, before the ground freezes. In February of the following year, a plastic film is placed over them. The seedlings are then unearthed in mid-March, and micro-fertilizers and pesticides are sprayed on their leaves. When the seedling reaches about 25 cm in height, topping is performed. According to our survey, seedlings in the film-covered areas were excavated 25 days earlier and were properly watered both before and after grafting. This allowed the growth period to be advanced or delayed by 20–30 days, effectively increasing the growing season by around 50 days. Seedling height also increased by approximately 40 cm, ensuring high-quality rootstocks for early grafting.
Second, timely budding is crucial. Grafting should be done when the seedling reaches about 20 cm in height, ideally as soon as possible. More than 10 leaves should be retained on the bud, and after the wound is sealed, a thin film is tied around it. The grafting site is then shortened immediately so that the bud sits at the top of the plant or just below the two or three upper buds. This helps the bud heal faster, survive, sprout, and grow quickly. The film is removed 7–10 days after budding. If the bud has more than 10 leaves, all old leaves and shoots from the rootstock should be removed to promote healthy bud growth. Otherwise, the bud may struggle due to limited leaf area, leading to poor growth or even death. A survey conducted on November 20, 2003, on 500 seedlings showed that those grafted with buds had a survival rate of 95%, compared to 84.5% in the control group. This represents a 10.5% increase in survival rate, an 11.9% increase in germination rate, and a 37.3% increase in seedling height.
Third, proper timing for autumn grafting is essential. In recent years, in western Henan, peach tree buds often show dark brown exudation when covered with plastic, forming a hard shell that significantly reduces survival and germination rates the following year. To address this, we conducted 600 trials from late July to late August 2006. All grafts used the same type, method, location, and personnel. The results showed that the exudation rate was only 3.5% in late July, 30.4% in mid-August, and 49.2% in late August. This indicates that the best time for autumn grafting is between late July and early August, ensuring higher survival rates and better seedling quality.
Fourth, using wooden buds in spring can significantly improve grafting success. Compared to other grafting methods, wooden bud grafting has a higher survival rate, simpler technology, and greater efficiency. It also saves buds while producing good yields. The optimal time for wooden bud grafting is from mid-March to early April. Grafting sites are selected on extended branches, with 12–15 grafts per plant. For 1–3-year-old trees, branches are pruned or shortened, and multi-headed wood grafts are made at their tips. Ungrafted twigs are managed by leaving strong ones and removing weak ones, allowing fruit production to develop gradually. Once the buds grow to about 20 cm, they are marked, and the original variety’s buds and new shoots are gradually removed to inhibit their growth until the fruit is harvested. This creates ideal conditions for the free growth of the new buds and ensures high yields the following year. By retaining 10 leaves on the rootstock and removing them once the buds have more than 10 leaves, the balance between underground and above-ground growth is effectively maintained.
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