Transcript RLO Mass Production of Curtard Apple Plants in Nursery

Introduction:
Custard apple is important dry land horticultural crop of Maharashtra.
Pune district stands first in the state with respect to area and
production.
Custard apple is commercially propagated by budding which has a
low success rate, process is cumbersome and plantlets are less
vigorous.
Soft wood grafting of custard apple is easy, with higher success and
production
of
healthy
plantlets.
Poly
house
production
and
subsequent hardening further improves the plant quality and number.
Custard Apple Cultivars:
Cultivars of custard apple available in India
Washington,
Hyderabad selection,
Mammoth,
Red custard apple, and
Balanagar.
The cultivar Balanagar is recommended for Maharashtra state.
Farmers from Maharashtra grow Hyderabad selection and Balanagar
on commercial basis.
Root stock Selection:
Ramphal (Annona reticulata) or local custard apple is used as root
stock for grafting desired variety of custard apple. Fresh, mature and
healthy seeds from vigorous, disease-free mother plants are selected
and soaked in water for 24 hours. Seed are treated with 0.1%
carbendazim and then sown at the depth of 2 cm in poly bag.
Poly bag of 17.5 cm X 15 cm size are filled with garden soil, sand and
well decomposed FYM in equal proportion (1:1:1). The bags are
perforated at its base for facilitating drainage.
12-15 months old, pencil thick rootstock are selected. 2-3 cm deep Vshaped cut is made on rootstock at 10cm above ground.
Scion Selection:
Scion stick must be selected from mother plants on the basis
of following criteria:
1. Desired Variety
2. Vigorous and healthy growth.
3. High and good quality yield.
4. Mature growth
5. Resistant to local pest and disease attacks.
Softwood Grafting of Custard Apple:
• Grafting is recommended from November to February when
custard apple naturally sheds leaves and goes into dormancy.
• Selected Scion stick must be 9 to 12 months old. Top 20 percent
portion of scion stick in removed before grafting. A slanting cut of
2.5 to 3 cm is given on both sides of the scion base.
• Scion base is then inserted into the cut on rootstock. The graft
union is gripped with polythene strip till the union takes place.
Softwood Grafting of Custard Apple:
Water Management:
Custard apple grafts need to be
watered regularly for 4 to 6 months
right from grafting operation to time
of sale. Grafts should be watered
every two days.
Micro sprinklers should be used in
nursery
for
maintaining
humidity
during summer hot months to ensure
success of grafts.
Nursery Care:
F.Y.M is source of nutrients for grafts.
Poly bags are drenched in 19:19:19 NPK
fertilizer solution regularly.
Aphids attack new flush on sprouting
scion.
Spraying
Methyl
demeton
/
dimethoate @ 0.05% and carbendazim
Weeding
0.1% after every 15 days is effective.
Grafts are shaded during summer. Weeding and removal of sprouts
on rootstock should be done after every 15 days.
Quality Parameters:
1. Scion and rootstock should have appropriate thickness and age.
2. Naturally defoliated scion stick must be collected from disease
& pest free orchards.
3. The tip of scion stick must be removed at the time of grafting.
4. The grafting should be done 10 cm above the ground level.
5. Grafts must be hardened in shade house after union.
6. Nursery and graft care practices must be followed including
weeding, removal of sprouts from rootstock, spraying of
pesticides, and fertigation.