Side Bud Grafting: Rapid Propagation in Darjeeling Mandarin

Abstract

Darjeeling Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) is one of the important cash crops for the farmers of Sikkim and Darjeeling hills. The crop is grown in hills since time immemorial. The mandarin orchards in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills of West Bengal are declining at an alarming rate. Major reasons for the decline are attacks of pests and diseases, old and senile orchards, lack of scientific knowhow on cultivation and lack of quality planting material for replanting. Orchard needs to be replaced with healthy quality planting over the years, there has been a huge demand for healthy quality planting material in Darjeeling Mandarin. Side Bud grafting has been a successful technique of grafting for rapid propagation in Darjeeling Mandarin developed by ICAR-IARI Regional Station Kalimpong. Side Bud grafting has a high rate of success and can be easily adapted by farmers for mass multiplication of planting material.