How Does Durian Reproduce? A Detailed Guide to Propagating the King of Fruits
Durian has always been famous for its smell, but for people who love eating durian, durian is fragrant, and durian is also very high in nutritional value. So, what propagation methods does durian have? Let's find out together!
1. Bud grafting
Except for monocotyledons and some plants with irregular cambium, almost all dicotyledonous woody plants can be propagated by bud grafting. The rootstock should be about the size of a pencil. At a point 10cm above the soil on the rootstock stem, cut two slits from top to bottom, 0.7cm wide and 3-4cm long. Make a horizontal cut at the top of the two slits, then lift the bark so its length matches the bud piece. Leave a small amount of the already lifted bark at the lower end of the cut to support the bud piece. The process of obtaining the bud piece is the same as the method of slitting and lifting the bark on the rootstock. After fitting them together, tie tightly with a 1cm-wide plastic film strip. The graft union should preferably not come into contact with rainwater for two days.
It should be noted that in bud grafting of other fruit trees, the bud can be completely wrapped, but durian is an exception, because the bud on the bud piece easily falls off. Therefore, after two weeks you can tell whether it has survived. After it survives, cut off the upper part of the rootstock about 30cm above the grafted bud to stimulate rapid growth of the bud eye. Later, the rootstock will grow many rootstock branches. These rootstock branches must not be completely removed; one or two branches must be left to help the grafted bud absorb nutrients. However, the retained rootstock branches must not be allowed to grow too vigorously and need frequent pruning so as not to hinder the growth of the grafted bud.
2. Cleft grafting
Seedlings whose seeds have sprouted but have not yet opened leaves, or that have not yet become woody, are best used as rootstock. Cut the rootstock flat at 6-7cm above the ground, and make a vertical cut about 1cm deep down the middle of the flat rootstock stump to form a “V” shape. Obtain a shoot with two or three buds and a diameter comparable to the rootstock stump as the scion, about 8-10cm long. Cut off 3/4 of the leaves, whittle the lower end of the scion into a wedge shape, insert it into the slit of the rootstock stump, and tie tightly with a plastic film strip. Afterwards, cover the entire seedling with a transparent plastic bag to prevent the scion's moisture from evaporating away. Place it in a cool, shady place. After about two to three weeks, if the scion's leaves have not fallen off, it is considered successful.
3. Approach grafting
Approach grafting is only suitable for small-scale propagation. If many durian trees need to be propagated, it is not recommended. Seedlings planted in plastic bags at about six or seven months old can be used as rootstock. The shoot used as the scion should be equal in size to the rootstock; the most ideal is an upright vegetative branch, and an upright vegetative branch should be used for approach grafting.
4. Cuttage
The shoot used for cuttage should be about 15cm long, with a diameter about the size of a chopstick, and should have several leaves and buds. Two-thirds of each leaf should be cut off to prevent moisture evaporation. Slant-cut the lower end of the shoot, or make a fork cut 1cm from bottom to top, apply a layer of hormone rooting agent, insert it into a cup of moist sand, place it in a greenhouse with weak light, and water it. After seven or eight weeks, if the leaves have not fallen off and young roots are growing, it can be transplanted into a plastic bag.
5. Shoot side grafting
The rootstock can be of any size, as long as it has already become woody and its bark can be easily peeled open. The height of the insertion point can be chosen freely. The cutting process is similar to bud grafting. Select a vigorous young shoot 10cm long that has not yet opened leaves and has not yet become woody as the scion. The slant-cut length of the scion should be slightly shorter than the rootstock cut. Insert it into the rootstock cut, bind it with plastic tape, then wrap it tightly with transparent plastic film, and place it in a cool, shady place. After two weeks, cut open the plastic film, but the tape must not be removed until the shoot has grown fully.
6. Air layering
Air layering of durian has no seasonal restrictions. Select a branch a little larger than a pencil, and starting from the tip, ring-bark it at about 40cm, with a length of about 3cm. After peeling the bark, use the back of a knife to scrape away the cambium at the cut, otherwise the bark at the cut will heal and no roots will grow. Wrap a ball of moist soil around the cut, wrap and bind it with plastic film for three layers, and tie both ends tightly. After about three months, once new roots have grown, it can be cut away from the parent plant, the plastic film cut open, planted in a black fruit-seedling plastic bag, and placed in a cool, shady place. After about one or two months it can be transplanted. Because the survival rate is low, this method is rarely used when propagating durian.
The above are the durian propagation methods compiled for you by the Tuliu.com editor. We hope they can help you!