In vitro micrografting of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.)

The requirements for in vitro micrografting Anacardium oocidentale L. are d escribed. Excised embryos germinated in vitro were used as rootstocks. Shoo t tips and axillary shoots proliferated from seedling shoots were the sourc e of scions. Flooding the cut surfaces immediately in a mixture that contai ned citric acid controlled oxidative browning. Firm contact between the sci on and rootstock was assured through the use of an aluminium foil tube at t he graft junction. An indole acetic acid pretreatment of the scions and a c ulture medium with alpha naphthalene acetic acid that enhanced rooting brou ght about graft fusion and development, indicating an exogenous auxin requi rement. Further improvement of this technique and modifications to suit mat ure tree explants would prove to be a more advantageous practical applicati on of in vitro micrografting in the improvement of cashew.