Abstract
We aimed to determine an appropriate choice of rootstocks and scions for raising fig (Ficus carica L.) nursery stocks within the current year by softwood grafting. The combinations for grafting were based on ‘Masui Dauphine’ as scions and ‘Ischia Black’ or ‘Negronne’ as rootstocks resistant to ceratocystis cancer disease. The cuttings were collected from dormant shoots of the rootstock cultivars at different times (December and March), and were divided into separate (basal, medium and apical) portions. At the end of March, the cuttings were placed in water or planted in a pot of soil. Growth of the cuttings was influenced by the stem portion, but not by the time of collection. The cuttings collected from the basal position leafed later but rooted earlier, and achieved their required shoot length (0.3 m) earlier than those collected from the apical position. The early grafting improved the grafting success rate. The proportion of surviving grafted nursery stock was higher when using the immature portion of a ‘Masui Dauphine’ scion shoot than a semi-mature portion.
