The Effect of Tying and Wrapping Materials and Their Color on Budding Success in Kiwifruit

We studied the effect of tying and wrapping materials and their color on budding success in kiwifruit. The work was done in the open field during 2002-2003. Three-year-old, gallon container grown Hayward seedlings were chip-budded with Hayward chip-bud sticks in the first quarter of May. Raffia (black), cannabis fiber, leathery polyethylene band (white), soft rubbery polyethylene tape (white), paper tape, cotton yarn and plastic string (white) were used as tying and wrapping material in the first experiment. Green, red, black and white raffia was used as wrapping material in the second experiment. In the first trial, the soft rubbery plastic tape gave the highest graft-take (100%), sprouting rate (96.67% and 100%, respectively to the years), graft shoot diameter (7.58 mm and 7.62 mm, respectively to the years) and length (70.43 cm and 78.01 cm, respectively to the years). Paper tape gave the lowest results. In the second trial, the white raffia gave the best results on graft success (96.67% and 93.33%, respectively to the years) and graft shoot length and diameter. In conclusion, the soft rubbery plastic tape could be effectively used for tying the kiwifruit bud-grafts and white wrapping material increased the bud success. The conventional wraps like cannabis fiber, plastic string, cotton yarn or paper tape are not suitable for kiwifruit budding.