Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

Scion
Scion is the part of mother plant used in budding and grafting to develop the fruit
tree. It is an upper portion of the composite plant which forms the fruit bearing part of the
tree.
Rootstock
It is the part of the original tree on which the scion is worked upon to produce the
desirable tree. The scion and rootstock from separate mother plants are considered for
budding purpose.
Aonla: Stock (base) and Scion (top)
Methods of Budding
1. T-Budding
T-budding must be done when the bark is succulent and in slipping condition. When
cut, the bark easily lifts or peels in a single uniform layer from the underlying wood
without tearing this is „Slipping‟. The exact time when this condition occurs depends on
soil moisture, temperature, and time of year. It varies with species and variety. Dry, very
hot or very cold weather can shorten the period of bark slipping. Irrigation can be
valuable in extending the T-budding season.
The successful budding operation can be obtained when the following precaution is
taken. Buds should not be inserted when the air temperature exceeds 32.2 o C.
Preparing the Stock: Budding knives usually have a curved tip, making it easier to
cut a T-shaped slit. First, insert the point of the knife and use a single motion to cut the
top of the T. Then without removing the point of the knife, twist it perpendicularly to the
original cut and rock the blade horizontally down the stem to make the vertical slit of the
T. If bark is slipping properly, a slight twist of the knife at the end of this cut will pop
open the flaps of the cut and make it easier to insert the bud. In practice, the top of the T
is usually slanted slightly.
<strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Book</strong> on Horticulture Nursery Management : 27