Budding of Walnut ( Juglans regiaL.)

The walnut is classified as a strategic species for human nutrition and is included in the FAO’s list of priority plants. Walnut, (Juglans regia L.) propagation is more difficult, compared to most fruit species. Due to walnut heterozygosity, propagation by seeds does not lead to inheritance of all the characteristics of certain varieties. That is the reason why propagation technologies are being improved worldwide. The purpose of this experiment was to increase the success of inoculation of the walnut budding var. Franquete. Methods such as the patch budding and chip budding have been employed during the experiment. To establish the most appropriate season of inoculation, June budding on 28 June (with buds taken in the current season), autumn budding on 28 August (with buds taken in the current season) and spring budding on 28 May (with buds collected from the winter dormant period), were tested. As rootstocks for the June and August budding, the seedlings of Juglans regia L. of the current year s growth have been employed. For the spring inoculation the one year old scions have been used. Patch budding resulted the most successful method for walnuts. However, the success of the method of patch budding depends on the season of inoculation. An 80 % of successful inoculation was achieved by June budding (on 28 June). Furthermore, cutting off the leaf 20 days before the buds being taken for budding, led to even higher results reaching 87% of successful inoculation. According to the results of the present study, the June budding of the patch method seems to be the best solution for the production of grafted young walnut trees.