In grafting, which method is used to attach a scion to a stock?

In grafting, which method is used to attach a scion to a stock?

• A. Cleft graft
• B. Bud graft
• C. Layering
• D. Whip or tongue

Answer: (D)

When grafting, the goal is to fuse the tissues so the vascular cambium of the scion and rootstock align and heal together. The whip or tongue method is designed to create a tight, interlocking fit that matches the cambial surfaces along a long contact seam. You make a diagonal cut on both pieces and add a small tongue on each side that fits into the corresponding cut, which increases contact area and helps hold the scion in place while the graft union forms. This method works well when the scion and stock are similar in diameter, giving you a stable graft that heals reliably. Cleft graft, by contrast, is used when the stock is thicker than the scion and involves splitting the stock and inserting a broader piece of scion. A bud graft uses a single bud cut from the scion inserted under the bark of the stock, which is quicker but provides only a bud as the growing point. Layering is a propagation technique where a stem remains attached to the parent plant as it develops roots, not a direct scar-to-scar graft.

When grafting, the goal is to fuse the tissues so the vascular cambium of the scion and rootstock align and heal together. The whip or tongue method is designed to create a tight, interlocking fit that matches the cambial surfaces along a long contact seam. You make a diagonal cut on both pieces and add a small tongue on each side that fits into the corresponding cut, which increases contact area and helps hold the scion in place while the graft union forms. This method works well when the scion and stock are similar in diameter, giving you a stable graft that heals reliably.

Cleft graft, by contrast, is used when the stock is thicker than the scion and involves splitting the stock and inserting a broader piece of scion. A bud graft uses a single bud cut from the scion inserted under the bark of the stock, which is quicker but provides only a bud as the growing point. Layering is a propagation technique where a stem remains attached to the parent plant as it develops roots, not a direct scar-to-scar graft.