In modern fruit culture, the search for cropping methods for reduction of production time is important. In this sense, the use of grafting techniques is fundamental. In the Experimental Field of the Center of Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of Alagoas-UFAL, under the nursery conditions, an experiment with soursop tree (Annona muricata L.) was conducted. The objective was to evaluate the effects of three grafting methods on the percentage of soursop tree. The grafting methods utilized were by the green strip budding, whip grafting and the top cleft grafting associated with two soursop tree cultivars (Gigante das Alagoas and Crioula) and two containers for seedlings (polyethylene bags and tubes), by employing rootstocks aged 95 days after emergence. It was found that the ‘Gigante das Alagoas’ showed a better performance than ‘Crioula’ concerning graft establishment at 60 and 90 days after grafting. The best grafting method depended upon the container type utilized. When the polyethylene bags were employed the green strip budding grafting method showed a better performance than grafting methods in the evaluations performed at 60 and 90 days after grafting, presenting the average percentage of graft establishment of 100 and 95%, respectively. Nevertheless, by utilizing tube containers, all the three grafting methods tested presented average percentage of graft establishment higher than 75% but, they did not differ statistically. These results showed it is possible to reduce the size of the container, without missing the efficiency and quality of soursop trees.
Annona muricata; grafting; budding; asexual propagation; soursop tree