Budding/Bud Grafting as a Type of Propagating Material

October 19, 2023 Agric4Profits

Budding can be described as the type of propagation process where the exact replica of the parent plant is produced. It can also be defined as a type of propagating material can be defined as a process consisting of the en-grafting of the bud (scion) of a plant into the stem (stock) of another plant of the same genus.

In biology, Budding can be defined as a form of asexual reproduction in which a new individual develops from some generative anatomical point of the parent organism. In some species buds may be produced from almost any point of the body, but in many cases budding is restricted to specialized areas.

On the other hand, Bud grafting (also called chip budding) uses a bud instead of a twig. Grafting roses is the most common example of bud grafting.

In this method of propagation, a bud is removed from the parent plant, and the base of the bud is inserted beneath the bark of the stem of the stock plant from which the rest of the shoot has been cut.

Generally, it is very suitable for propagating deciduous fruit (Citrus spp.) and shade trees. Budding of improved materials on regenerated chupons is one of the new methods of rehabilitating cacao in some countries around the world.

In the most common T-budding pattern, the desired scion from a young, actively-growing shoot of a chosen crop variety is immediately slid into a T-shaped slit on the root stock.

The joined bud and root stock are held by a winding of rubber-band / special tape / wrap which holds it until sealed, which prevents drying or contamination of grafted materials.

Chip budding is used for budding species whose barks do not “slip” (when cut, the bark easily lifts in one uniform layer from the underlying wood) easily without tearing. Bud grafting is faster, easier and less messy than other forms of grafting discussed below.

Budding/Bud Grafting as a Type of Propagating Material

Bud grafting allows the production of plants identical to a parent plant. Also, it may give increased productivity of crops through hardness, superior rooting capacity, drought tolerance and insect or disease resistance of the root stock.

However, the method is labour-intensiveions, requires great skills of nursery operations (and therefore, expensive) and can only be efficient when performed at very specific times when weather conditions and crop physiological growth status are optimum.

Also, the vascular cambium of the both the bud scion and root stock must be aligned to stimulate tissue growth on the basal ends before rooting.

Aside budding / bud grafting, there are also other types of propagation’s methods he major methods which are generally categorized into sexual and asexual propagation. That of asexual propagation are cuttings, layering, division, budding and grafting.

Cuttings involve rooting a severed piece of the parent plant; layering involves rooting a part of the parent and then severing it; and budding and grafting is joining two plant parts from different varieties.

In summary, budding is a form of asexual reproduction commonly used in horticulture and the propagation of plants. It involves the insertion or attachment of a bud from one plant onto the stem, rootstock, or branch of another.

The bud, which typically includes a small piece of bark, is carefully placed in such a way that it can receive nutrients from the host plant and eventually develop into a new individual plant.

Budding is often used to propagate fruit trees, ornamental trees, and certain types of roses. It is a popular technique because it allows for the efficient and reliable production of genetically identical plants, which can inherit the desirable traits of the parent plant.

The process requires precision and care to ensure the successful union of the bud with the host plant, facilitating the growth of a new plant with the desired characteristics.

On the other hand, Bud grafting, also known as chip budding, is a horticultural technique used to propagate plants by inserting a bud from the desired plant onto a compatible rootstock.

This method is commonly employed in fruit tree propagation and allows for the replication of desired traits in the new plant. Bud grafting is often performed during the late summer when the bark of the rootstock easily separates from the wood.

The process of chip budding involves carefully removing a single bud from the desired plant, including a small patch of bark. A corresponding T-shaped incision is made on the rootstock, and the bud is inserted into the incision.

The bud is secured in place with tape or other binding materials to ensure it remains in close contact with the rootstock. Over time, the bud will establish vascular connections with the rootstock and grow into a new shoot, eventually forming a new plant with the desired characteristics of the original bud.

Chip budding is a precise technique that requires attention to detail, proper timing, and suitable environmental conditions to achieve successful grafting.

When executed correctly, it can result in the production of genetically identical plants with specific, desirable traits, making it a valuable method for plant propagation in agriculture and horticulture.