Effect of softwood grafting period on vegetative characters of different varieties in sapota (Acharas zapota L.)

Abstract:

The research was carried out at Horticulture Farm, Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur during July, 2025 to February, 2026. The ten treatment combinations of Kalipatti and Cricket Ball grafted during 5 different periods viz. 1^st fortnight of July, 2^nd fortnight of July, 1^st fortnight of August, 2^nd fortnight of August, and 1^st fortnight of September were evaluated with three replications under completely randomized design (CRD). The results exhibited significant effect of different treatment combinations, among which T₄ (Kalipatti grafted on 2^nd fortnight of August) recorded maximum sprout length (10.12, 15.62 and 21.96 at 60, 90 and 120 DAG), branches at 150 DAG (3.96) and leaves per graft (10.44, 16.74 and 22.94 at 60, 90 and 120 DAG compared to all other treatment applied in cv. Kalipatti during investigation. While in Cricket Ball, treatment T₉ (Cricket Ball grafted on 2^nd fortnight of August) recorded maximum sprout length (9.05, 14.08 and 19.12 at 60, 90 and 120 DAG), branches at 150 DAG (3.32) and leaves per graft (9.16, 14.56 and 19.76 at 60, 90 and 120 DAG compared to all other treatment applied in cv. Cricket Ball during investigation.