Evaluation of Four Grafting Methods for Propagating Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) In the Dry Tropic of Mexico

Cashew (<i>Anacardium occidentale</i> L.) is reproduced by seeds from ‘Criollo’ cultivars in Mexico. The replication of desirable agronomic traits is difficult when selected plants are from sexual reproduction. The heterogeneity of plants is observed as higher trees, irregular fresh fruit yield, variable fruit quality, differential insect pest and disease susceptibilities and lower number of plants per hectare, and extended period for recovering the invest, and problems of commercialization due to fruit quality and price. Vegetative propagation is an alternative for reducing the heterogeneity of cashew trees. Four grafting methods for propagating cashew in the dry tropic of Colima, Mexico; splice side graft, cleft graft, whip graft and chip graft, were evaluated. The experiment was carried out in the Campus Tecomán of the Universidad de Colima. Rootstocks were from 8 months healthy plants with 1m height and 1cm diameter, obtained from ‘Criollo’ seedlings, and the scions was obtained from a healthy 10-year old ‘Amarillo’ cultivar donator tree. This donator was selected for its excellent agronomic traits and fruit yield. Vigorous and terminal scions were used; these were disinfected with fungicide and used the same day of excision. The experiment was distributed under a completely randomized design. Splice side graft had 33.3 % (5 grafts) of success 60 days after grafting, Other types of graft (cleft graft, whip graft and chip graft) were kept latent for 10 days, the scions and rootstocks initiated to losing energy and to not reestablishing the vascular bundles, were dehydrated and dried progressively during 60 days after grafting.