Healing Chamber for Tomato, Brinjal and Chilli Grafting
| Healing chamber for Tomato, Brinjal and Chilli Grafting |
|---|
| 1. Preface: Healing chamber for vegetable grafting |
| 2. Types of healing chamber |
| 3. Making a healing chamber |
| 4. Management of HC |
| 5. Things to keep in mind |
| 6. Frequently asked questions |
Also read: Basics of Tomato Grafting
01: Preface: Healing chamber for vegetable grafting
Vegetable grafting is not a very old practice. Grafting in tomato, brinjal, chilli, etc., is being practiced since 19th century. A plant show tolerance against many soil borne disease after grafting. It increases overall crop production period. The demand for grafted tomato, brinjal and chilli is increasing day by day. To meet with demand and complete orders, many commercial vegetable grafting is practiced in many vegetable nurseries under controlled environment.
The top portion of a vegetable graftage, i. e., scion may dry out soon without an ideal condition because it is unable to receive moisture content from rootstock. Scions absorb moisture content from the environment or vise-varsa. Hence, it is very important to maintain an optimum moisture level until rootstock and scion make a connection before callus formation.
Also read: Rootstocks for Vegetable Grafting
What is healing chamber
A healing chamber is a micro environment where both the temperature and moisture are maintained according to the principle of vegetable grafting. The size and shape of the chamber depends on the need of grafter. Simply, It is a covered structure.
Working principle of HC
- It increases humidity and reduces light to allow grafted
- plants to heal.
- The primary duty of the healing chamber
- is to minimize water loss from the scion.
Need
A healing chamber is required for the healing of the cut-wound portion of rootstock and scion. Unlike fruit plants or any other woody plants, the vegetable plants are very soft during their seedling stage. If cut at any portion, they loss moisture very rapidly and dry immediately. To avoid this in grafting of vegetable crops, we need a healing chamber where the optimum moisture level is maintained in a micro surrounding. This chamber checks drying out of the graft union.
Types of healing chamber
- Low cost HC
- High cost HC
Low cost HC: These are made by using easily available materials. We can use polythene sheets and sterilized gunny bag to make a chamber..
High cost HC: These are advanced structure. Glass house is a perfect example og high cost HC.
03: Making a healing chamber
Method and materials
- PVC pipe: It is best for making frame of HC
- Polythene sheets
- Cloths
Method
Lining: Line the floor of the healing chamber with a transparent plastic sheet
Frame: It should be lightweight. Frame should able to bear the load of plastic and shade cloth.
Covering the frame: Cover the frame of healing chamber properly with transparent plastic sheet to prevent moisture loss from the chamber.
Making clip from PVC pipe: Cut 2 inch segments of slightly larger diameter PVC pipe and cut out a ¾ inch section to create a clip to secure plastic to the frame.
Covering the frame: Place two layers of cloth over transparent plastic sheet to check the incoming light. You can also use black plastic sheet.
Keeping graftages inside healing chamber
Keep the healing chamber in a green house e.g., green shade-house, white shade-house or a polyhouse. You can also keep it in a room for low cost production. The height of healing chamber should be 0.5-1. The space between the top of plant and roof of the HC should be at least 15 cm. The width of HC should not be more than 1.5 meter.
Misting healing chamber
- Mist each side of the inside part of HC.
- It should be done few minutes before grafting.
- You can use a manual fogger machine.
- By doing this you are going to wet the HC.
Misting vegetable plants
Mist the vegetable plants just after grafting
Once again mist the healing chamber before placing the plants in
the chamber
Niw seal the chamber securely using clips to prevent moisture loss.
For this, you can use clothespins or binder clips
Gradually introduce the grafted plants into the shade-house environment to avoid grafting failure.
04: Management of HC
Low humidity: If the humidity in the healing chamber is too low then scion leaves will begin to wilt and plants may die. Mist the plants well and place them back in the healing chamber.
High humidity: If the humidity in the healing chamber is too high, then plants may show abnormal growth. High humidity also causes edema on leaves.
Long healing period: If plants are left in the chamber for too long, then adventitious roots may develop on the scion. Remove adventitious roots immediately.
Plant pathogen: Pathogen may grow inside chamber because warm condition and high humidity. So regularly sterilized your healing chamber.
05: Things to keep in mind
Sterilize your healing chamber each time before placing plants
Avoid too much moisture inside chamber
06: Frequently asked questions
Question 01. How many days does vegetable grafting take place?
- It takes an average of 8–12 days after grafting.
Question 02. How many days does vascular connection take to establish?
- Vascular connection establish between rootstock and scion after 4-7 days. It may vary species to species.
Question 03. How many days does callus formation take place?
- Callus formation takes 7-14 days
Explanations
Rootstock
A rootstock is a plant which is used as source of resistance (in grafting) against many soil borne diseases. In a graftage, the lower portion (stem) is rootstock.
Scion
A scion is top growing shoot from a quality plant variety. In a graftage, the upper portion (stem) is scion.