Pulwama, March 11: Experts from the horticulture department have issued guidelines to apple orchardists, urging them to consider top grafting as a solution for addressing specific issues in their traditional apple orchards.
Mohammed Shafi Dar, a subject matter specialist in the horticulture department of Kashmir, emphasized the importance of having compelling reasons for orchardists to opt for top grafting.
Dar highlighted key factors driving the need for top graft work in traditional apple orchards, including low productivity, small fruit size, and inadequate fruit coloration.
However, he cautioned against the indiscriminate use of top grafting in orchards already yielding good quality fruit with no coloration issues, stating that such practices are not conducive to healthy orchard management.
The expert recommended specific improved apple selections compatible with traditional rootstocks, such as SS2, SS3, King rot, Jeromine, Z1, and Adam, for top grafting purposes.
However, he discouraged the use of Gala varieties for top grafting on traditional delicious rootstock due to their vigorous growth nature, which could result in taller plants.
Instead, he suggested utilizing colonial rootstocks like M11, M27, and M9 for grafting Gala varieties, as these rootstocks induce dwarfing characteristics in the grafted plants.
Emphasising the significance of rootstock selection, Dar urged orchardists to carefully consider the rootstock when purchasing apple plants from the market.
He highlighted the crucial role of colonial rootstocks in influencing the overall growth and productivity of apple trees, underscoring the importance of aligning rootstock characteristics with the desired outcomes for the orchard.
