Influence of Rootstock Age and Pre-Defoliation of Scion on the Success of Epicotyl Grafting of Mango

The present investigation in epicotyl grafting of mango was conducted during last week of July, 2012. The experiment was laid out in a two factors factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Mango seedlings of 5, 10, 15 and 20 days were grafted with un-defoliated and 5, 10 and 15 days pre-defoliated scion. Among different treatment combination, Days to first sprouting (9.6 days) and completion of sprouting (16.33 days) was minimum in the grafts of 15 days seedling age with 10 days pre-defoliated scion whereas maximum (16 days) and (22 days) was found in 5 days old seedlings with 0 days pre-defoliated scion. Maximum initial (86.7%) and final success (56.7%) of grafts were found in the grafts of 15 days old seedlings and 10 days pre-defoliated scion while it was found minimum (16.7%) and (6.7%) in the grafts of 5 days old seedlings and un-defoliated scion respectively. Fifteen days old seedlings and 10 days pre-defoliated scion performed best for all growth parameters