In Brazil, some pioneer studies were carried out using quince seedlings (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) as rootstock for loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.). The main advantage of this intergeneric grafting use is plant size reduction. The success of using this intergeneric grafting is related mainly to plant size reduction. Therefore, the objective of this work was to study grafting techniques of loquat cultivars using 'Japonese' quince tree (Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne), with new option for rootstock. The one-year old 'Japonese' quince seedlings (with around 110 cm of height and 0.85 cm of diameter at the grafting point, 15 cm from the soil), were kept in plastic bags (30 x 18 cm, 3 liters of capacity). The seedlings were grafted by the cleft grafting and single bud grafting methods, in two different periods: in autumn (April) and winter (July). Five loquat cultivars commercially planted in Brazil were used: 'Mizuho', 'Néctar de Cristal' (IAC 866-7), 'Mizauto' (IAC 167-4), 'Mizumo' (IAC 1567-411) and 'Centenária' (IAC 1567-420). Using the single bud grafting method, there was no sprouted bud when done in autumn, and just two sprouts each of 'Mizauto', 'Néctar de Cristal' and 'Centenária' when done in winter, however, with low vigor. By the cleft grafting method, higher sprout percentage and better scions growth were observed when the seedlings were grafted in winter, especially for 'Mizuho', 'Centenária' and 'Néctar de Cristal' loquat cultivars.
Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.; Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne; propagation
