THE INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS METHODS AND BUDDING DATES ON PRODUCTION OF BLACK MULBERRY (Morus nigra L.) SAPLING

This research was conducted to determine the effects of five different budding dates and six budding methods on graft success and plant growth in black mulberry sapling production. The experiment was carried out in Bolu, Turkey, between 2014 and 2015. The black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) was grafted on twoyear old white mulberry (Morus alba L.) seedling rootstocks in the nursery conditions. The highest bud take (88.33% and 85.0%, respectively to years) and sprouting rate (85.0% and 71.67%, respectively to years) were obtained with chip budding by hand performed on May 1 in both years. The highest mean shoot length (41.33 cm and 39.68 cm, respectively to years) and diameter (6.26 mm in both years) were obtained with inverted T-budding performed on April 15, 2014 and 2015. Among all parameters the best type of buddings was chip budding by hand, followed by T and inverted T-budding. The lowest results in all parameters were obtained with patch budding and chip budding by tool. Budding date on May 1 was the most appropriate and the results obtained were the highest in all parameters.