Effect of Cultivars and Season on Grafting Success in Sapota under Paschim Midnapur Conditions of West Bengal

Two sets of experiments were carried out during 2007-08 to assess incompatibility of sapota cultivars to softwood grafting, and to find out the best time for softwood grafting, in a private orchard at Jhargram of Paschim Midnapore, West Bengal. Considerable variation in success of softwood grafting among sapota cultivars was observed. Among ten cultivars studied, CO-2 showed highest compatibility with Khirnee ischolar_mainstock to softwood grafting, followed by Cricket Ball and DSH-2. There was a total failure in graft-take in cultivars CO-1, DSH-1 and Guthi. Softwood grafting success was highest in sapota when carried out on 1^st July (72%) followed by 15^th August (70%), 5^th June (62%) and 15^th June (56%).