Effect of Different Times and Methods of Budding in Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) using Seedling Rootstock of Peach

Abstract— The present investigation on effect of different times and methods of budding in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) using seedling rootstock of peach was conducted under field conditions at the Fruit Nursery and Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, during 2019. The experiment consisted of twenty-four treatment combinations which were replicated thrice in Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design. Apricot cv. Newcastle was budded at 15-day intervals from 15th July to 30th September using four budding methods: T-budding, Patch budding, Chip budding, and Ring budding. Observations were recorded on days to sprouting, sprout length, sprout diameter, number of branches, number of leaves, leaf area, dead plants after sprouting, dead plants without sprouting, survival percentage, and saleable plant percentage. Earliest bud sprout (78.588 days), maximum sprout length (48.25 cm), thickest sprout diameter (0.878 cm), highest number of branches (25.333), maximum number of leaves (115.7), and highest survival percentage (71.25%) were observed for plants budded on 15th July. Among methods, chip budding resulted in earliest sprouting (135.3 days) and highest survival (67.9%), while T-budding produced longer shoots (29.8 cm) and better saleable plants (79.7%). The combination of 15th July with chip budding (T1M3) performed best across most parameters with earliest sprouting (70 days), longest sprouts (53.3 cm), thickest sprouts (0.95 cm), highest branches (27.3), most leaves (129), highest survival (85.0%), and highest saleable plants (91.7%). Budding in late September resulted in poor performance across all parameters. The study concludes that mid-July budding with chip budding is most suitable for apricot propagation on peach rootstock under Garhwal Himalayan conditions.