The Latest Eggplant Grafting Techniques: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
Soil-borne diseases of eggplant are very serious, and the pathogens of soil-borne diseases can survive in the soil for 4-6 years. Moreover, the control effect of pesticides is very low, so eggplant cannot be planted continuously on the same land and must be rotated. However, the rational use of eggplant grafting techniques can effectively control these soil-borne diseases, and the planting benefits will also be improved to a certain extent. So today, the editor brings you the grafting techniques for eggplant. Let's take a look together!
1. Choosing Rootstock
For eggplant grafting rootstock, varieties such as Pingqie (flat eggplant), Ciqie (spiny eggplant) and Torubamu (Solanum torvum) should be selected. These rootstocks have different disease resistance capabilities. For example, Pingqie is mainly resistant to fusarium wilt and bacterial wilt, and its seed germination rate and grafting survival rate are both relatively high. However, it is not suitable as rootstock where soil-borne diseases are severe. Ciqie is mainly resistant to verticillium wilt and is currently the most commonly used rootstock; soaking the seeds for about one day allows almost all of them to germinate. Torubamu can basically resist most soil-borne diseases, but its seed germination rate is not high, so the seeds need to be soaked and sprouted. Therefore, we should select the rootstock according to the severity of soil-borne diseases and the planting region, and make good preparations for grafting.
2. Seedbed Preparation
After preparing the rootstock, control the ratio of soil to decomposed farmyard manure properly and mix them into nutrient soil. After mixing, the seedbed soil must be disinfected. For the disinfectant, agents such as quintozene and zineb can be used. Mix them thoroughly with the soil, then cover with plastic film and keep it for about 3 days. Then prepare the seeds according to the area of the seedbed. The thickness of the nutrient soil should be about 10 cm. Water thoroughly to improve the soil's moisture retention capacity, and wait for sowing.
3. Treating the Seeds
On sunny days, carry out seed sunning, with the sunning time controlled at around 7 hours, then soak the seeds in agents such as potassium permanganate or carbendazim for about 0.5-1 hour. After soaking, take them out and rinse them clean, then put them into warm water at about 30 degrees. If the rootstock is Torubamu, prepare a 100% concentration sprouting agent. After soaking for about 8 hours, rinse off the mucus on the seed coat, then wrap them in a damp cloth for sprouting, with the temperature controlled at about 18 degrees. Rinse with warm water twice a day, and they will sprout in about a week.
4. Sowing Management
Different rootstocks have different sowing times. Pingqie should be sown about one week earlier, Ciqie should be sown about 1-3 weeks earlier, and Torubamu should be sown about one month earlier. Then, when about 85% of the sprouted seeds have grown to about 2 mm, sow them evenly on the seedbed, and cover with nutrient soil and plastic film to keep warm and moist. Control the temperature at about 29 degrees, and the nighttime temperature should not be lower than 20 degrees. After the seedlings emerge, the plastic film can be uncovered. After the seedlings are fully established in about a week, control the temperature at about 22 degrees. After emergence, spread nutrient soil twice to promote nutrient absorption.
5. Grafting Method
When the seedlings grow to two true leaves, carry out seedling separation, then strengthen fertilizer and water management and transplant at the right time. Then, when the seedlings grow to 6 true leaves, carry out grafting. Usually the cleft grafting method is used. After digging out the seedlings, keep about two true leaves on the rootstock. Cut the rootstock stem transversely, remove the upper part of the rootstock, then make a cleft about 1.2 cm deep down the middle of the stem. Pull out the scion seedling and keep 3 true leaves. Cut it into a wedge-shaped cut surface, with the length the same as the graft union. The cut surface must be smooth and flat. Then insert the cut scion into the rootstock cleft, align them with each other, and secure with a grafting clip.
After grafting, plant the grafted seedlings into a small arched shed, water thoroughly, and cover the arched shed tightly. Within 3 days after grafting, they must not be exposed to wind or light. Control the air humidity and temperature well and prevent direct sunlight. Then appropriately increase light and ventilation over time. After the graft union heals, normal management can be carried out. Post-grafting management is also very important, so everyone must pay close attention to it.