Effect of rootstock, scion and grafting method on vegetative propagation of pomegranate

In order to study the effect of rootstock, scion and some methods of grafting and budding to achieve the best methods of grafting in pomegranate, split factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in March 2013 in greenhouse at the Agricultural College of Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan. Factors included rootstock, scion, and methods of grafting and time of grafting. Varieties of grafted plants of Poust Ghermez-e-Ali Aghaei, Garch-e-Dadashi and Garch-e-Shavar were used as rootstock; varieties of Rabab-e-Neyris and Khafr-e-Jahrom were used as scion. Methods of Cleft grafting, Chip budding were used. The vegetative parameters were measured at three times: 60, 120 and 180 days after grafting. Results showed that the methods of grafting had significant effect on grafting success and establishement of grafted seedling. The cleft grafting had more grafting success compared to Chip budding, but rootstock and scion genotypes had no significant effect on grafting success and survival of grafted plants. The highest rate of vegetative parameters in all grafting was obtained in 180 days after grafting. There were negative correlation between phenolic compounds of rootstock and scion with the percent of survived grafted seedling. Finally, the Cleft grafting technique showed to be more successful method for propagation and scion cultivar change of pomegranate.