1. Fruit production, maturity period, plant population and yield
Horticulture Program,
Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute
Mango
Maturity from seed: 5- 6 years.
Maturity from grafting: 2 -3 years
Spacing of 8m x 8m gives 80 plants/acre, yielding 10 tons/acre/year.
Spacing of 10m x 10m gives 52 plants/acre, yielding 8 tons/acre/year.
Avocado
Maturity from seed: 6 -7 years.
Maturity from grafting: 2 -3 years
Spacing of 6m x 6m gives 56 plants/acre, yielding 4 -5 tons/acre/year.
Citrus
Maturity from seed: 4- 5 years.
Maturity from grafting: 1 -2 years.
Spacing of 6m x 6m gives 126 plants/acre, yielding 20 -30 tons/acre/year.
Spacing of 8m x 8m gives 80 p plants I acre, yielding 15 -20 tons/acre/year.
Papaya
Maturity from seed: 1 -2 years.
Grafting not done.
Spacing of 3m x 3m gives 462 plants / acre, yielding 6 tons / acre / year.
Guava
Maturity from seed: 4 -5 years.
Maturity from marcotte: 1 -2 years.
Spacing of 8m x 8m gives 80 plants / acre, yielding 10 -20 tons / acre / year.
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2. Jackfruit
Maturity from seed: 5- 6 years.
Not grafted
Spacing of 12m x 12m gives plants / acre, yielding 16,000 fruits / acre / year.
Passion fruit
Maturity from seed: 1 -1.3 years.
Maturity from grafting: 6 -8 months.
Spacing of 3m x 10 m gives 143 plants / acre, yielding 3 -5 tons / acre / year.
Advantages of grafting
To get a plant combining good characteristics of one variety and the rootstock of
another, e.g. yellow passion fruit is tolerant to collar rot while Kawanda hybrid is high
yielding.
Shorter period to maturity.
To overcome adverse soil conditions, e.g. heavy soils, acidic soils.
To avoid change of desired characteristics as happens through sexual reproduction.
For propagating seedless plants.
For detection of viral diseases.
For renewal of productive branches on older trees (top grafting).
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