Agriculture and Food Sciences Research

Globally increasing interest in environmentally sound viticulture in precision agriculture promoted the viticulturists to find eco-friendly treatments in both vineyards and nurseries. The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible effects of plant oil extract (as plant activator), seaweed (Ascophylum nodosum L.) extract, calcium oxide and iron chelate on callusing degree on graft union point and final take of ‘Trakya Ilkeren’ table grape cultivar grafted on 110 Richter (Berlandieri x Rupestris) rootstock. Bud break and shoot emergence commenced earlier in grafts subjected to pre-grafting immersion into iron chelate and plant oil extract during graft union room duration than those of nontreated control grafts. The greatest degree in callusing of graft union point was obtained from plant oil extract (3.8), which was closely followed by seaweed (3.7), while, on the other hand, control and immersing the graft materials into iron chelate had the lowest effect with the same value (2.2). The highest percentage of graft final take was obtained from plant oil extract (75%), followed by seaweed treatment (55%), while control and iron chelate grafts were as low as 45 and 44%, respectively. Overall findings indicated that immersing the scion canes and rootstock cuttings into plant seed oil before grafting could be recommended to increase the nursery grafting success.