Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
Silicon latex clips and glue in securing the union of newly splice-grafted pepper
plants and their effect on plant survival and growth
Mahmoud
1
Soltan ,
Farouk
2
El-Aidy ,
INTRODUCTION
Grafted pepper plants can help growers overcome
serious production challenges. However, grafting pepper
plants is difficult since pepper produces less callus than
tomato and other crops (Johkan et al., 2008). Silicon clips
are normally used to secure the union of newly grafted
plants but glue also has potential advantages, including:
1) widespread availability, 2) utility on all stem diameters,
3) potential ease of application, 4) modifying the microenvironment of the union, and) cleanliness.
We set out to compare the effects of silicon clips and
glue used to secure the union of splice-grafted pepper
plants on their survival and short-term growth.
and Matt
3
Kleinhenz
------------------------- cut -------------------------
Fig. 2. Plant survival, leaf area (direct, WinCam-mediated),
and fresh and dry weight were recorded 15 days after
grafting using clips (left) and glue (right) .
rootstock
scion
------------------- secure union ------------------
Treatment effects were analyzed by ANOVA and through
multiple comparisons completed with PROC GLM in SAS.
The experiment was completed twice in AugustSeptember, 2015 in a greenhouse at the OSU-OARDC in
Wooster, OH. A total of 60 plants of each combination
listed in Table 1 were prepared with half of each group
secured with either a standard silicon clip (Fig. 1; 1.5 - 1.8
mm inner diameter) or Krazy Glue Color-Changing Series
(Fig. 1; Ethyl cyanoacrylate or 1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic
acid, 2-(acetyloxy)-, tributyl ester). Each combination by
clips/glue replicate contained 10 plants with three
replicates per treatment. Replicates were arranged in a
randomized complete block design on two greenhouse
benches and all measurements were taken 10-15 days after
grafting.
Sixteen scion/rootstock combinations created from splice-grafting six varieties
of pepper, with individual plants of each combination secured with a silicon
clip or glue.
1/3
1/4
1/5
1/6
2/3
2/4
2/5
2/6
3/1
3/2
4/1
4/2
5/1
5/2
6/1
6/2
Table 1. Six varieties were used: 1) Aristotle, 2) Early
Sunsation, 3) Jalapeño M, 4) Cayenne Large Thick, 5)
Hungarian Hot Wax and 6) Thai Hot. Varieties were
employed as rootstocks and scions to create the 16
combinations.
CONCLUSIONS
RESULTS
glue
clip
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Survival rate ( %)
Avg. leaf area (cm²)
100
16
90
80
70
12
60
50
8
40
30
with clip
with glue
0
0.8
Fig. 1. Plants representing sixteen rootstock-scion
combinations of six pepper varieties were splice grafted
using standard approaches (Vu et al., 2014), although
each union was secured with either a clip or glue.
Newly-grafted plants were transferred to a healing chamber
located in the same greenhouse and maintained at 85%-90%
relative humidity and 27± 3˚C throughout the healing period
(15 days). Light levels were reduced by using shading cloth
(50% photosynthetic active radiation transmission; Tek Inc.,
Janesville, WI) for days 1-3 after grafting, and were gradually
increased to ambient over days 4-15 after grafting.
4
20
10
a
b
Avg. fresh weight (g)
0
0.12
0.6
0.09
0.4
0.06
0.2
0.03
0
a
The material used to secure the union of newly splicegrafted pepper plants, i.e., standard clips or fast-acting
glue, affected the percentage of surviving plants, and their
leaf area and fresh and dry weight (Fig. 3). Overall, percent
survival and plant mass were greatest in groups of plants
secured with standard silicon clips.
Similar trends were noted within all sixteen rootstockscion combinations, although securing unions with
glue did not reduce survival or growth of AristotleCayenne Large Thick plants (data not shown).
b
0
a
Future research will also benefit by testing other adhesives..
b
Avg. dry weight (g)
a
Plant survival and growth were greatest when clips were
used. Still, adhesives have promise going forward. Achieving
superior results with adhesives will require:
A. Understanding direct adhesive effects on plant
biochemistry and tissues and avoiding unwanted effects.
B. Understanding adhesive effects on the micro-environment
of the graft union and assuring that gas exchange, moisture,
and other conditions are suitable.
C. Potential modifications in the grafting and adhesive
application process compared to those used here.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Johkan, M., M. Oda and G. Mori. 2008. Ascorbic acid promotes
graft-take in sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.). Scientia
Hort 116:343-347.
Vu, N., Y. Kimi, H. Kang, and I. Kim. 2014. Influence of shortterm irradiation during pre- and post-grafting period on the
graft-take ratio and quality of tomato seedlings. Hort Environ
Biotechnol 55(1):27-35.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
b
Fig. 3. Survival and growth of splice-grafted pepper plants
10-15 days after grafting using a clip or glue to secure the
graft union. Bars containing different letters indicate that
the clip versus glue effect was significant at p < 0.01.
1HORTICULTURE
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information: http://go.osu.edu/cfaesdiversity.
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Specialty Crops Initiative under award Number 2011-51181-30963. Any
opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in
this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Salaries and research support is also provided in part by the Egyptian
Cultural and Educational Bureau/Center in Washington.
The expert technical contributions of Jennifer Moyseenko, M.S.,
Stephanie Short, M.S., Bizhen Hu, M.S., and Samy Abd Elgwad Gaffar,
professor, throughout the project are gratefully acknowledged.
INSTITUTE, AGRICULTURE RESEARCH CENTER. EGYPT.
2 FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE KAFR ELSHEIKH UNIVERSITY. EGYPT.
3 DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND CROP SCIENCE.OHIO.