Propagation of Wood Apple (Feronia limonia L.) by Budding

A study was conducted on the budding of wood apple (Feronia limonia) under different environments using differently aged rootstocks at the Department of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India, during 2007-08. The experimental results revealed that among the two environments tested, poly mist house condition produced better results compared to open condition. Among the differently aged rootstocks, nine-month-old rootstock resulted in better budding parameters. Maximum number of leaves (3.4), leaf area (5.9 cm(2)) and sprout length (2.7 cm) were recorded in plants budded on eight-month-old rootstock. A minimum number of days (23.4) was required for sprout initiation under nine-month-old rootstock while eight-month-old stock produced the highest percent bud takes (92.8) and survival percentage (90). The interaction effect of age of rootstock and environments was significant. The scions budded on nine-month-old rootstock under poly mist condition took a minimum number of days (20.6) for sprouting while eight-month-old stocks produced highest bud take (99.3%) and survival percentage (93.3). The maximum number of leaves (3.9) was observed on eight-month-old rootstock under poly mist conditions which was on par with seven-and six-month-old stocks (3.1 and 3.1, respectively). A lower number of leaves and leaf area were registered with the scions budded on five-month-old stock in open condition (1.8 and 2.6 cm(2), respectively). A significantly higher leaf area (6.3 cm(2)) was registered on eight-month-old rootstock which was on par with seven-month-old rootstock (6.0 cm(2)).