Present status of vegetable grafting systems

Recently, materials and machines for vegetable seedling production have been developed, for example grafting systems. Since grafted nursery plants which are essential for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables require precise techniques and careful management, grafting had so far been performed manually. However the development of grafting systems has enabled to perform this work mechanically. Currently, more than 10 companies are developing grafting systems. In this report, we classified representative grafting systems into their general configuration, object crop, seedling feeding method, grafting method and materials, and release of grafted nursery plants, and analyzed the functions of each system. Furthermore, we described the work performance of each grafting system and emphasized the importance of raising scions and stocks for mechanical grafting. Lastly, we indicated that the development of new technologies such as automation of accessory operations, preparation of manuals for raising seedlings, seedling storage technology, and cultivation technology, is important for the development of grafting systems.