Optimization of Grafting Season on Cleft Grafting for Deploying Commercial Propagation of Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) in Tamil Nadu

Tamarind is one of the most important multipurpose trees grown in farm land, backyards, bund and avenues. The acidic pulp is digestive, astringent, laxative, refrigerant antiseptic and uses as main ingredient for many south Indian food preparations. Grafting is an important tool for propagation and conservation of tree genetic resources without altering genetic makeup of the species. This investigation aimed to study the effects of grafting season on the success and survivability of different Tamarind clones. Cleft grafting experiments were laid out in Completely Randomized Block Design with four replications in GTI Propagation Complex, IFGTB, Coimbatore. The Experiment comprises of 12 grafting time viz., 15th every month from January 2019 to December 2019. Significant variations on the number of days for bud breaking, number of sprouts, number of leaves per grafts, and final survival percentage were observed on the season of grafting. The minimum number of day for bud breaking (9.25 days) was observed in the 15th April followed by 30th April (9.78 days)s while the maximum days for bud breaking (17.47 days) was recorded in 15th October grafted plants. Grafting carried out on 15th April was showed high performance in number of sprouts (8), ant height (62 cm) number of leaves per grafts (66.6) and final survival percentage (85% ) whereas lowest values (35%) were recorded on 15th October . It is concluded that the best season for clef grafting of Tamarind for deploying large scale multiplication is April to May.