Studies on the effect of tipping, capping and root pruning in Chinese guava seedlings for attaining graftable stage under Allahabad conditions

Abstract

The experiment was conducted with a view to find out invigorating factors and their interaction in attainment of graftable seedling in open under Allahabad conditions. Bold seeds of extracted from Chinese guava fruits of winter season crop were sown. After four months tipping, capping and root pruning operations were done in 27 treatment combinations. Non-perforated polythene tube capping was better over perforated capping. Shoot tipping at 10 cm was suppressive to vigour, while light pruning (5 cm) was invigorating. Root pruning for one time was found positive, while pruning twice had negative effect on vigour of the sapling. Highest length of sapling (55.67 cm) was recorded in treatment T1C1P1, i.e. shoot tipping (5 cm) + non perforated polythene tube capping + once root pruning. Higher values for stem perimeter (2.0 cm), number of leaves per sapling (46.60), leaf area (3489 cm2), stem internode length (3.79 cm) and graftable saplings (79.49%) were also recorded in the same treatment. Seedling mortality was greater due to double root pruning, which was further aggravated with deeper pruning. Highest (47%) seedling mortality was observed in T2C0P2, i.e. deep tipping + no shoot capping + twice root pruning. Growth parameters like plant fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, plant dry weight, Shoot and root dry weight were also found significantly greater in treatment T 1C1P1. About 80% graftable Chinese guava seedlings of sound vigour could be obtained after four month of sowing, with 5 cm shoot tipping followed by non-perforated wide mouthed polythene tube capping and subsequently 18 cm deep root pruning once after 6 month of sowing.