Field Grafting Trials with Caribbean Pine

The caribbean pine which is an exotic to India has shown great promise. The seeds of this species are in great demand by many countries for taking up large-scale plantation work with the result that sufficient seeds are not easily obtiainable. Therefore, with the objective of becoming self sufficient in seeds of this species for planting programme, plans for establishing seed orchards have become becessary. For successful establishment of clonal seed orchards good grafting technique and knowledge of the optimum time for grafting are essential. Earlier grafting work done during March and April, 1975, with the scion material obtained from. Queensland, Australia, turned out to be a complete failure. Systematic grafting trials were, therefore, taken up at Dehra Dun in the months of September, October and November, 1975. Autoplastic and homeoplastic cleft grafts were made on side branches of 5 year old trees in the field in var. bahamensis. In Autoplastic grafts 60, 80 and 85 percent and in Homeoplastic grafts 15, 64 and 65 percent success was achieved respectively, for the months of September, October and November.