First Outcomes of Grafting Wolfberry in Romania

Abstract Grafting berries is a topic untouched by researchers or practitioners till now in Romania due to the convenient and widely spread way of classic propagation methods. Nevertheless, the positive effect of grafted plants in commercial orchards is well known at many other species. Traits like precocity, uniformity, fruit size and yield stability is desired to be achieved in this manner. By grafting berries, we look forward to eliminate the actual shortcomings of the traditional crop systems, mainly generated by bushy crown shape that requires large distance between the plants, difficulties in mowing or weeding process along the rows, pruning and harvest operation in a uncomfortable arch position, discontinuous application of pesticides inside the bush etc. In this regard, different methods and trials have been conducted in the last two years at the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest in order to eliminate these bottlenecks in the berry technology trough grafted plants.