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In a T budding technique of grafting fruit trees, how does the cambium layer of the bud come into contact with the cambium layer of the rootstock?

How does this great method have such a high success rate if there is no direct contact between the cambium layers?

The upside down T method is usually more recommended.

Here is a great video that demonstrates this method.

enter image description here

This is the photo that I made that shows where I think there is contact between the cambium layers, let me know if I am correct or not:

enter image description here

VividD
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csandreas1
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1 Answers1

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There is direct contact between the two cambium layers - the removed bud has cambium (meristematic tissue) exposed on the cut side, and the T cut made in the stem it's to be grafted to has the bark or exterior tissue peeled back to reveal the cambium prior to insertion of the bud, as clearly demonstrated in the video you linked with. Whether the T cut in the rootstock stem is upside down or right side up, the principle is still the same.

In the UK, T budding is generally used on roses, and that's the only time I ever came across this method - trees are more often chip budded. In the case of roses, its usual to remove woody material from the back of the bud prior to inserting into the T shape on the rootstock.

T-budding (Royal Horticultural Society)

Bamboo
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