Grafting is a commonly used method of asexual propagation for fruit trees and flowers

Grafting is a common method of asexual propagation in plants. It involves taking the branch or bud of one plant as the scion and joining it onto the stem or root of another plant as the rootstock, so that the two parts heal together into a complete new plant. The principle relies on the plant's ability to form callus tissue after injury, allowing the cambium layers of the scion and rootstock to fit closely together and gradually connect their vascular tissues, so that they grow as one.

In terms of technique, grafting is roughly divided into two main categories: branch grafting and bud grafting. Branch grafting uses a shoot with buds as the scion, with common methods including cut grafting, cleft grafting, side grafting and approach grafting; bud grafting uses a bud patch as the scion and is mostly carried out during the growing season when the bark peels easily. Different plant species and grafting seasons suit different methods, so the choice needs to be made flexibly.

Grafting is very widely used in fruit tree and flower production. It can reliably maintain the characteristics of superior varieties, allow young trees to flower and bear fruit earlier, and, by making use of the well-developed root system of the rootstock, improve the plant's ability to adapt to adverse conditions such as drought, poor soil and soil-borne diseases. Some ornamental plants that are difficult to root from cuttings or grow weakly are also often grafted to improve their growth.

The main factors affecting the success of grafting are the compatibility between the rootstock and scion, and whether the cambium layers at the cut surfaces can be aligned. During the operation, the knife must be sharp, the cut surface smooth, and the action quick, with tight binding to prevent water loss from the cut and the entry of pathogens. After grafting, attention should be paid to shading and moisture retention, promptly removing any buds that sprout from the rootstock, and only gradually removing the binding after the scion has taken and begun to shoot.