Chip Budding
Large scale commercial propagation of fruit trees is primarily achieved through summer budding, with a smaller proportion of trees produced from dormant season whip and tongue grafting. Until recently the summer budding technique typically used was the T-bud technique (one of the shield budding techniques). More recently there has been a major shift to the use of the chip budding technique. This shift is primarily the result of a growing body of empirical research demonstrating the superiority of the chip bud in terms of size, uniformity, and lateral branching (e.g., http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00221589.1974.11514581).
Here is a chip budding handout that is a good place to get an understanding of the chip budding process. Here is a color visual summary of the steps in chip budding. This handout has excerpts from several good descriptions of the chip budding process that can add to your skill and knowledge.
Here is another more comprehensive visual summary of the production process of fruit trees using the chip budding technique:
http://www.mcgrathnurseries.co.nz/resources/488-process-of-growing-a-tree. Note that McGrath Nurseries is located in the southern hemisphere (New Zealand), so the seasons are opposite for those of us in the northern hemisphere.
Here is a link to chapter 13 in Hartmann and Kester's Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices, "Techniques of Budding." Check out pages 519-521 (see especially the pictures on page 520).
Here is the diagram of chip budding that we will be using during the grafting workshop. Compare these with the diagrams in the other readings listed as preparation for the workshop.
Here is a chip budding handout that is a good place to get an understanding of the chip budding process. Here is a color visual summary of the steps in chip budding. This handout has excerpts from several good descriptions of the chip budding process that can add to your skill and knowledge.
Here is another more comprehensive visual summary of the production process of fruit trees using the chip budding technique:
http://www.mcgrathnurseries.co.nz/resources/488-process-of-growing-a-tree. Note that McGrath Nurseries is located in the southern hemisphere (New Zealand), so the seasons are opposite for those of us in the northern hemisphere.
Here is a link to chapter 13 in Hartmann and Kester's Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices, "Techniques of Budding." Check out pages 519-521 (see especially the pictures on page 520).
Here is the diagram of chip budding that we will be using during the grafting workshop. Compare these with the diagrams in the other readings listed as preparation for the workshop.
If the above text above the illustrations is hard to read, you can download the PDF of the above Diagram 17-4 click here.
Connection between dormant season grafting and the chip budding technique: You can use the chip budding technique when using dormant season scions as an alternative to the traditional whip and tongue technique.