Effect of Woody and Green Cleft Top-Working Methods on Some Growth and Fruit Quality Characteristics of Different Grape Cultivars in Malayer in Hamedan Province in Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Field and Horticulture Crops Research Department, Hamedan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Hamedan, Iran.

2 Researcher, Field and Horticulture Crops Research Department, Hamedan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Hamedan, Iran.

3 Expert, Field and Horticulture Crops Research Department, Hamedan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Hamedan, Iran.

10.22092/spj.2026.372136.1466

Abstract

One of the main challenges of grape growers is the declining profitability of cultivating traditional, low-yield old varieties, which sometimes fail to even cover harvesting costs. To address this issue, replacing old varieties through top-working has been proposed as an effective approach. The present study was conducted over three years (2022-2024) in Gourab, Malayer in Hamadan Province, aiming to investigate the effect of different grafting methods and compare seven commercial grape cultivars grafted on the ‘White Seedless’ rootstock. The experiment was split-plot arrangements in randomized complete block design with three replications. Grafting methods, woody cleft grafting and green cleft grafting were assigned to main-plots, and the seven commercial grape cultivars, Turkmen 4, Flame Seedless, Ruby Seedless, Perlette, Rasheh, Autumn Royal, and Kondori were randomized in sub-plots. Results showed that woody cleft grafting method significantly increased fruit yield, cluster length, width and weight, as well as berry weight and length, and TA. However, grafting success was higher with the green cleft method. In the first year, the cv. Turkmen 4 showed the greatest scion growth (173.83 cm), while cv. Ruby Seedless had the least (109 cm). Scion growth was generally higher with woody cleft grafting than with green cleft grafting method. Among the grafted grape cultivars, cv. Autumn Royal exhibited the highest values for quantitative traits such as fruit yield, cluster length, width and weight, berry length, diameter and weight and ripening index. Meanwhile, cv. Turkmen 4 showed the highest levels of quality related traits including TA and TSS.
 
Keywords: Grape, rootstock, scion, graft success rate, fruit ripening index.
 

Introduction
Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated and most economical fruits in the world. Approximately 774.5 million tons of grapes are produced globally each year, most of which are consumed as fresh fruit and processed products. Iran, with an annual grape fruit production of over 3.6 million tons, is recognized as the 8th-largest producer of grape worldwide. Additionally, Hamadan province is one of the major grape-producing regions in Iran, ranking fourth for cultivated area and second in production (Anonymous, 2025). However, the diversity of grape varieties in this province is limited, and the White Seedless variety is grown as major grape cultivar.
This genetic uniformity and limited varietal diversity have weakened the grape products export position of the Malayer in Hamedan province, despite its high production capacity. To improve the productivity of grape production in this region, the use of various methods such as top-working for change of existing varieties, is considered a key strategy.
Various studies have shown that selecting suitable grafting combinations can significantly enhance both the quantitative and fruit quality related traits of the crop (Sabir, 2013). Therefore, top-working approach for replacing traditional varieties with more economically viable ones and improve the livelihoods of grape growers in the region is essential. The present study aimed to study the effect of grafting methods and grafting combinations of seven commercial grape cultivars on White Seedless rootstock on quantitative and fruit quality traits of grafted cultivars.
 
Materials and Methods
To evaluate the effect of grafting methods and grafting combinations of seven commercial grape cultivars on White Seedless rootstock on quantitative and fruit quality traits of grafted cultivars, a field experiment was carried-out in Gourab, Malayer in Hamadan Province in Iran. The experiment was split-plot arrangements in randomized complete block design with three replications in three years (2022-24). Grafting methods consisted of two levels: woody cleft grafting and green cleft grafting were assigned to main-plots, and Seven commercial grape cultivars, Turkmen 4, Flame Seedless, Ruby Seedless, Perlette, Rasheh, Autumn Royal and Kondori were randomized in sub-plots.
 Scions were prepared in March, and woody cleft grafting was performed on White Seedless rootstock on April 15, 2022. Green cleft grafting was carried out on June 10, 2022, using scions collected from current-year shoots. After grafting, the graft success rate, scion growth rate, and quantitative and quality related characteristics of grape clusters were measured and evaluated at the end of the three-year period. The collected data were analyzed using SAS software version 9.4, and mean comparisons were performed using Duncan’s multiple range test at the 5% significance level.
 
Results and Discussion
The results showed that grafted grape cultivars differed significantly for quantitative traits such as fruit yield, cluster length, width, and weight, berry length, diameter, and weight, berries number cluster-1 as well as fruit quality traits including TSS, TA, and ripening index. These variations in quantitative and fruit quality traits can be attributed to the influence of the rootstock, the scion genotype, and their interactions.
Several studies have demonstrated that differences in rootstock vigor, particularly in water and nutrient uptake and hormone supply to the scion, can significantly affect both quantitative and fruit quality related traits (da Silva et al., 2018). For instance, Migicovsky et al. (2021) reported that grafting cv. Chardonnay and cv. Cabernet Sauvignon on 15 different grape rootstocks significantly increased fruit yield and berry weight. The findings of the present study indicated that the grafting methods also had significant effect on the quantitative and fruit quality related traits of grafted grape cultivars.
The woody cleft grafting method improved fruit yield and quality compared with green cleft grafting. This superiority can be attributed to the use of mature, lignified tissues in woody cleft grafting method, which promoted faster graft union formation and enhances water and nutrient translocation to the scion, and ultimately improved vine growth and fruit development (Poku et al., 2024). Overall, among the evaluated grape cultivars, cv. Autumn Royal exhibited the best quantitative performance, including higher fruit yield and cluster characteristics, while Turkmen 4 was superior in fruit quality related traits such as TSS and TA.
 
References
Anonymous. 2025. Statistical yearbook of agricultural products. Volume III: Horticultural Products. Deputy of Economic Planning, Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture. Tehran, Iran. 359 pp. (in Persian).
da Silva, M.J.R., Paiva, A.P.M., Junior, A.P., Sánchez, C.A.P.C., Callili, D., Moura, M.F., Leonel, S. and Tecchio, M.A. 2018. Yield performance of new juice grape varieties grafted onto different rootstocks under tropical conditions. Scientia Horticulturae, 241, pp.194-200. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2018.06.085
Migicovsky, Z., Cousins, P., Jordan, L.M., Myles, S., Striegler, R.K., Verdegaal, P. and Chitwood, D.H. 2021. Grapevine rootstocks affect growth‐related scion phenotypes. Plant Direct, 5(5), pp.1-11. DOI: 10.1002/pld3.324
Sabir, A. 2013. Improvement of grafting efficiency in hard grafting grape Berlandieri hybrid rootstocks by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Scientia Horticulturae, 164, pp.24-29. DOI: 10.1039/C2NP20049J

Keywords

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Seed and Plant Journal
Volume 41, Issue 1
April 2025
Pages 94-71

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