The document discusses techniques for rejuvenating old orchards through top working, which involves grafting superior varieties onto existing trees to increase productivity. It describes the objectives, practices, and sequential steps for top working, including maintaining progeny orchards and scion banks to supply healthy scion material for grafting. Top working is presented as an effective method for converting senile orchards into productive ones with desirable varieties.

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JAWAHARLAL NEHRU KRISHI VISHWAVIDYALAYA
AN ASSIGNMENT ON
REJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKING : PROGENY
ORCHARD AND SCION BANK
COURSE TITLE : PROPAGATION ANDNURSERYMANAGEMENTFOR
FRUITCROPS
COURSE CODE ; FSC 505
SUBMITTEDTO SUBMITTEDBY
Dr. Rajnisharma Mr. suraj kumar
(Deptt.Of Horticulture) Enrollment- 200143011
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE JABALPUR (MP.)

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INDEX
S.N. CONTENT PAGE NO.
1. Top Working Advantage And
Disadvantages
3
2. Why Need Of Rejuvenation In
Orchard
4
3. Objectives Of Rejuvenation,
Practices Of Rejuvenation
5-9
4. Sequential Step For Top Working 10
5. Progeny Orchard And Scion Bank 11
6. References 12

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REJUVENATION THROUGH TOP WORKING-
PROGENY AND SCION BANK
TOP WORKING
 It is a technique or method of rejuvenation where in the objective is to upgrade seedling
plantations of inferior varieties with superior commercial cultivars or hybrids suitable for
domestic or export market or the desired variety of the grower.
 The technique involves grafting with procured scions of desired variety on shoots emerged on
pruned branches by adopting softwoodgrafting during monsoon season ( Season of topworking
slightly varies from species as it also depends on availability of good shoot and scions).
 The scion shoots and the emerged shoots should be of same thickness.
ADVANTAGE :-
 Increase the tree productivity /orchard productivity.
 Conversion of old and senile orchards into productive orchards.
 Conversion of seedling or inferior variety plantation /orchard into new orchard with
desirable variety or varieties through top working.
 Possibility of grafting several varieties on the same plant.
 Increasing the fruit set of orchard by grafting few shoots with pollinizer varieties.
 Additional income by selling the pruned wood during non bearing season or period.
DISADVANTAGE :-
 Chances of death of plant if not done properly or on severe pruning.
 Need good management post pruning period.
 Loss of crop for2-3 years
 Chances of pest and disease occurrence (stem borer, anthracnose etc.
 Needs skilled labour forthinning of shoots, removal of side shoots etc.

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WHY NEED OF REJUVENATION OF ORCHARD
GROWTH OF WILD SHRUBS AND GRASSES
 Wild shrubs and grasses continue to grow without any check under the tree and in
 betweenthe rows.Weedsharbourinsects,pestsanddiseasestoo. Whentheybecomelarge enough
they interfere in the orchard operations and some of
 themclimbupthe tree andbyshadingthe leavesordue totheirparasiticnature cause greatdamage
to the main fruit crop.
OVERCROWDING AND UNSYSTEMATIC PLANTING
 In some of the orchards no regularor systematicplantingisfollowed.The treesare alsofoundtobe
planted so close that they form a dense overhead canopy which does not allow sufficient light to
reach at different parts of the fruit trees uniformly.
 The lower branches remain under perpetual shade. As a result of it the bigger branches,remain
devoid of small twigs or branch lets and ultimately this abnormality reduces the fruiting surface.
 In such cases, trees for want of space grow tall and bear fruits almost on edge only.
 These fruits in hotter localities are affected adversely by sun burn.
 Thisway the growersunfortunatelysufferadouble lossbecauseonone handthe qualityof the fruit
and on the other the total produce both are considerably reduced.
 Free circulation of air is also checked and this results in development of pests and diseases
INFERIOR VARIETIES
 The poorselectionof plantingmaterial atthe time of plantingwill cause agreatlossthroughoutthe
life of the orchard. Inmostof the orchardstreeshavebeenraisedfromseedsandofinferiorvarieties.
 Seedlings of poor varieties are potentially poor and their performance is subjected to a
 wide range of variationso that evenif theygrow and functionnormally,theydonotproduce a crop
that can fetch good price in the market.

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OBJECTIVES OF REJUVENATION
 Enhance the productivity of old fruits orchards.
 provide quality planting material to farmers at reasonable to increase the yield per capital.
 Make senile orchards productive and juvenile.
 Enhance the profitability.
 Conservation of old progeny or species.
PRACTICES FOR REJUVENATION –
 The first step while going to rejuvenate an uneconomic orchard should consist of a thorough
examination of the causes which led to the tree in poor state.
 Efforts should then be made to rectify the defects.
 Practicesto be followedinadvance before the treesreachatneedof rejuvenationtoprotectthe
orchard from this malady have also been explained side by side.
i. Soil Management Practices
a) Cultivation
b) Irrigation
c) Drainage
d) Manuring
ii. Thinning And Filling Of Gaps
iii. Control Of Pests, Diseases And Parasites
iv. Pruning
v. Adventitious Method Of Feeding
vi. Wind Breaks And Fencing
vii. Top Working And Frame Working
i. Soil Management Practices-
 It is very importantthat the soil shouldintelligentlymanagedso that it may be maintainedina
condition suitable for meeting the needs of the trees without undue expenses
 There should be proper vigilance regarding the physical condition of the soil and also about
moisture and nutrient contents.
 hese depend largely on the practices of cultivation, irrigation, drainage, manuring etc.
 Conservationpracticesshouldalsobe followedtomaintainthe fertilityandtopographyof the soil

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a) Cultivation
 It involves the elimination of wild shrubs and grasses from the land left vacant in between the
trees.
 This practice has been found to prevent the surface soil from becoming it hard.
 Hard soil greatlyaddstothe difficultyof irrigationandinterfereswiththe growthof rootsof main
trees.
 Manures, fertilizers, green manure and other organic matter should be mixed with the soil by
means of regular cultivation.
b) Irrigation
 The waterrelationof the plantisof extremeimportancebothforvegetative growthandforfruit
production.
 Applicationof manure shouldbe followedbywateringsothatthe nutrientsare readilyabsorbed.
Soil around the tree base shouldbe raised to form a platform so that water does not touch the
bark of the trunk directly.
 In areas of scarcity of rainfall or limitedwatersupply,special methodsof moisture conservation
such as mulching may be practiced.
c) Drainage
 Drainage is as important as water supply.
 The absorption of nutrients is affected to a great extent by the aeration of the soil which is
affected by drainage.
 Afterprolongedstagnationof waterrootsbelowthe soil surface dieandtheymaynotbe replaced
by new ones.
 In poorly drained orchards, effective steps like provision of drains etc. should be taken,so that
there is not any interruption in the physiological processes of the plants.
d) Manuring
 Fruit trees live long, standing at the same place and bear crops year after year.
 Cultivationof greenmanure crops duringearlyrains and turningof them in the orchard soil and
create proper provision for their decomposition would greatly help in increasing the organic
matter of the soil and this directly will influence the supply of various nutrients.
 If green manuring is not possible, a heavy dose of F.Y.Mor compost may be spread throughout
the orchard. Besides, individual trees should be manured with quick acting fertilizers.
e) thinning and filling of gaps

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 Overcrowded trees should be thinned to proper distance.
 However, it is not useful to see many trees missing. In those cases gaps should be filled up by
trees of superior varieties.
 Sometimes certain varieties of citrus which have been propagated vegetatively for many
generations become somewhat lacking in vigour.
 For this process of rejuvenation, Swingle (1932) coined the term ‘neophyosis’
i. Control Of Pests, Diseases And Parasites –
 Unhealthy or diseased limbs should be cut off and pruned parts are suitably disposed.
 Bark boring caterpillars are prevalent in many orchards. Individual holes should be treated,
cleaned and then a mixture of carbon bisulphide and chloroform (2:1) or any other insecticide
should be injected in it.
 Regular spraying of the orchard trees with insecticides and fungicides must form a routine
practice.
ii. Pruning –
 The misbalanced root-shoot ratio can be corrected by judicious pruning.
 The brancheswhichhave diedorbrokenor one whichinterfereswithnatural growth,andwater
sprouts should be removed.
 Oldbearingtreesthat have reachedtheirmiddle age have become some whatlow invigourdue
to constant cropping or neglect, should be pruned heavily.
 Such trees respond better to a heavier pruning because of their reduced vigour.
iii. Adventitious Method Of Feeding
 Oldtreeswithweakgrowthcanbe invigoratedbyinfusingthe sapof youngerseedlingsintothem.
Several seedlings are grown close to the trunk of the tree.
 Whentheyattainanage of two orthree years,theyare headedbacktothe heightof 2′to 3′ from
the ground.
 The cut endsare shapedtoa wedge fromuptoalengthof about2″ andare insertedintothe bark
of the tree.
 If neededbothsurfacesmightbe nailedandwouldbe finallycoveredbygraftingwax followedby
firm tying with tape.

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 If the tree islackinginvigourdue tounsatisfactoryrootstock,the seedlingsshouldbe graftedinto
the scion not into the rootstock.
 In course of time, the seedlings get united to the tree and serve as its feeder.
 This could be practiced in mango, citrus, apple and in many other fruit plants.
 This method may also be followed when the collar region has been damaged.
iv. Wind Breaks And Fencing -
 Wind breaks are necessary for reducing the force and adverse effects of winds.
 The most effective are the double rows of tall trees, alternatively placed.
 Trees like sheesham, carambola, jamun, samal, paper mulberry and Terminalis arjuna can be
effectively used for this purpose.
 Orchard area should be fenced with barbed wire along with suitable protective and economical
hedge.
v. Top Working
 These are done to change the trees of inferior varieties into good ones.
 The scaffoldbranchesof the treesare cutback 2′ to 3′ from the pointof originandwhenthe new
sprouts come out, they are budded or grafted withthe scion of desired variety, keeping in view
that the scion is compatible to the headed trunk.
 After top working, only scion branch is allowed to grow and the rest are removed promptly.
 Top workinghas beenpracticedsuccessfullyinmanyfruitplantssuchas aonla,bael,stone fruits
etc.
 Mango plant has been top worked by side, bark, veneer and crown grafting and approach
inarching as well as budding.
 So far as citrus plants are concerned, shieldbudding has proved most satisfactory though other
methods of propagation have also been practiced thereby.
 For ber, ring budding was previously recommended, but now shield budding is gaining
importance.
 Top workinginloquatcanbe done bycleftgraftingandinfigbycleftandside graftingboth. Cleft
and bark grafting and budding have been successfully practiced for rejuvenating apples.
 Peach trees are best worked by inlay bark grafting.

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 In aonla duringjune – julyscionof desiredvarietyisgraftedon newlyemergedshotsdeveloped
on branches of pruned tree by adopting ring budding.
 Bael planttop woredbypatch buddingof improvedcultivarscanbe done onthese shootsduring
june – july.
 Cashew nut top worked by softwood grafting, june and august is most suitable period for top
working in cashew nut
 Guava can be top worked to replace the unwanted trees with high yielding varieties of good
quality. Crown of the existing tree is removed leaving 1-2 branches for maintenance purposes.
(Once new growth establishes these are removed). When new emerged shoots develop into
suitable stem girth they are drip or patch budded.
Plate 1 - Rejuvenation
Plate 2 – top workingonmangotree
SEQUENTIAL STEP FOR TOP WORKING

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PROGENY ORCHARD –
 Orchards maintainedbynurserymenmainlyformaintainingthe superiortypesof fruittreeswith
all the desirable characters mainly for the purpose of propagation.
 The plants maintained in these orchards are known as mother plants.
Denseold and unproductiveseedling tree
Heading back of branch from2.5 - 3.0 m abovethe ground level
December - january
Emergence of new shoots on beheaded branch
Thining of newly emerged shoots
After shootthinin top working by budding/grafting
May - August
After sprouting of bud , removalof top portion above the budding
point
Fruiting after 2 year

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 The disadvantagesof thistypeof orchardare;difficultyinvolvedinthe managementof fruitcrops
which differ in their cultural requirements, spacing, fertilizer and water mix; the whole of the
orchard may notcome to harvestat one time andit may be difficulttomeetthe cultural needof
different varieties.
 The plants maintained in these orchards are known as mother plants.
SCION BANK –
For successful rejuvenation of orchard Healthy/good scion is very important :-
 The blocksof motherplantsplantedwithaclose spacingcalledscionbanksare exclusivelyusedfor
supply of scion for plant multiplication.
 Spacing may vary from 1.5 x 1.5 m to 3 x 3 m depending on speciesand type of soil. Some prefer
too close spacing to reduce weed problem in the field.
 The scion banks can be raised for woody perennials like mango, sapota, tamarind, guava,
pomegranate etc. The main features of scion banks are as under.
 The motherplantsare plantedataveryclose spacinglike 2 –3 metersi.e.more populationperunit
area. For mango and tamarind two meters spacing is followed.
 These plants are obtained from a single tree of the given variety i.e. it would be typical clonal
propagation.
 The high population facilitates better utilization of applied water and nutrients which help in
maintenance of higher vigour in shoots.
 Pests / diseases management is more effective as the plants are small.
 It facilitatescontinuous availability of scion / bud sticks. In fact the availabilitymay get enhanced
naturally due to pruning effect which is due to periodical removal of bud sticks / scions for soft
wood grafting or for making cuttings, even out of season.
 Due to absence of commercial cropping, the vigour would be higher.
 Juvenile physiological conditions prevail in shoots due to frequent pruning or heading back which
enhance ‘graft take’ or root initiation in cuttings.
 Multiple varieties can be planted in the scion bank.
References :-
 http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in/mod/page/view.php?id=148219

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 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.marumegh.com/imag
es/January-March2017/83-88.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiw2K-
Kys3wAhWgyjgGHVB5D_kQFjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw1CL0YGBS4ge_OhyQCqulCv
 https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/16839007/canopy-management-in-fruit-crops-
department-of-agriculture-co-
 http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in/mod/page/view.php?id=13118
 Practical manual – canopy management in fruit crop by Dr. Gorakh singh