Abstract
The effects of recuperating condition of grafting of sweet pepper scions harvested from a common mother plant were investigated. When mature sweet pepper shoots were grafted onto rootstocks of different cultivars, the success rate was about 75%. However, quite a few leaves fell from almost all grafts during three weeks of recuperation and acclimatization treatment. Growth was repressed on grafts in which three or more leaves fell and their fruit yields were rather low. In contrast, growth and yields of the grafts in which one or two leaves fell were equal to control seedlings; these were designated as good transplants. Examination of exposing stock/sion combinations to 15°C to 25°C for 4 to 7 days on percentage take revealed that the union healed fastest at 22.5°C; it was slower at lower temperatures. The higher the temperature, the more leaves fell. Transplant yield was highest (92%) when the temperature was maintained at 15°C for first four days and then raised stepwise daily to 17.5°C, 20°C, and 25°C on the seventh day. The grafts were transferred for acclimatization. The percentage take of grafts and yield of good transplants differed among cultivars used for rootstock, but a wide variety of sweet peppers served as good rootstocks.
