Inverted Root Grafted Ross Sapote Update

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Here is the update on one of 2 Ross Sapotes I grafted (on inverted rootstocks, of canistel).

The other tree rotted from the bottom of the scion to the top, with visible mold on the bark when I performed the autopsy.

This patient looks much healthier!  This is one time I'm happy to see some mealy  bugs and ants.  This is a sign that the tree is still alive, and worthwhile for other organisms to parasitize. 

It hasn't pushed out new growth from the top yet, but the scion has flushed out new growth on a lower node of the stem.  I'm anxious to see some leaves growing from the top.  It's been grafted for over 2 months now it seems.

A strange feature I noticed, is how the graft union is callusing over.  The graft union is exuding a yellow like substance, that protrudes above the tape.  It almost looks like a fungus, or vegetative growth of rootstock trying to push out, but it's neither. 

Instead it seems like there maybe an interesting reaction between the scion's cells merging with the rootstock's cells, which are indeed roots. 

I wonder if this plasma looking stuff is normally seen when grafting Canistel, or Mamey, in a more typical fashion? (If this is just sap, I'm surprised, because I've never seen such a thing when grafting sapodilla, or fig trees)

I will be very happy if this tree lives!! It's looking good, but I know It ain't over until it fruits one day.   

[Ethan]

Very cool Adam great job so far.  Veg flush from lower down and bugs sounds like the plants juices are pushing.

Cant wait for the next update, good luck.

[luc]

If I ever need surgery Adam , I'll call you , great job . I only saw this inverted root graft done in the Yucatan and Guatemala .

[FlyingFoxFruits]

thanks very much for the votes of confidence you guys!

I won't be operating on anyone, except maybe a tree that needs a cambium transplant! or a limb amputated.

I will keep you guys posted for sure, I'm really praying this tree makes it out of the bag, and to eventual fruition!

[nullzero]

Hope it recovers nicely and the experiment works. Btw, is that a mix with pine bark and coco coir? It looks kind of like it, just curious if you have been getting good results with using it too.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

You know NZ,

my picture is a bit deceptive.

this is a mix of primarily pine and peat.  But, the seed used for rootstock, was sprouted in a mix of primarily coco coir, thats why you can still see small bits of coco in the mix...I had trouble rinsing all of it off the roots.

keen observation though!  I think Zill uses coco coir with great results for sapodilla, mamey, and Canistel (and more)

[Jackfruitwhisperer69]

Hi Adam,
Nice looking graft, Buddy The graft is definitly healing...I noticed that the cambium has a nice green colour, just like Lúcuma does when healing

From a pic i saw of an inverted root grafted tree...they are dwarf and super productive, which is freak'n awesome

Can't wait for an update...fingers crossed

[Cookie Monster]

Good job, Santa! My inverted green sap (on green sap rootstock) also developed a gigantic callous at the union.

[samuelforest]

Wow! It looks like something else...

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Good job, Santa! My inverted green sap (on green sap rootstock) also developed a gigantic callous at the union.

Hey Cookiemonster,

your inverted green sap looks like mickey mouse!  or two ice cream cones!

I wonder if this will hurt the tree?

In any case, thanks for sharing the pics, and great job grafting.

PS, I don't see any fruits on your M. vexator!

Has it set a few yet??

[Jackfruitwhisperer69]

Good job, Santa! My inverted green sap (on green sap rootstock) also developed a gigantic callous at the union.

Hi CookieMonsta,
WOW That graft looks freak'n awesome...never seen one like that, Congrats

[Cookie Monster]

I'm glad you like my mickey mouse green sap :-). I'm hoping it will just grow out if it, but we'll see. The hardest part was getting the darn thing to root out. It grew at a snail's pace until it was able to poop out a few roots (which took months).

The vexator flowered a couple of times, but still has yet to fruit. Ditto for the other one of same size on the corner of the house. The one in the picture is approximately 7 years old (Eye planted it in Jan of 2008). Good thing I'm not in a hurry to eat vexators.. :-). Nice ornamental though.

Hey Cookiemonster,

your inverted green sap looks like mickey mouse!  or two ice cream cones!

I wonder if this will hurt the tree?

In any case, thanks for sharing the pics, and great job grafting.

PS, I don't see any fruits on your M. vexator!

Has it set a few yet??

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Jeff,

thanks for the info.

I think the tree will grow just fine, but might have a crazy looking graft union.

I think my tree is heading down the same path in life (if it makes it out of the bag).

Maybe we should feel bad for turning this plant's life upside down, and demanding it to fruit at such a young tender age! 

If you haven't tasted M. vexator yet, just remember one thing.  The skin has a resinous substance that tastes quite tannic and harsh!  You can avoid this by carefully cutting the fruit in half, and sucking out the pulp. 

This way you'll get much less of the harsh juices in your mouth from the skin.  After a while when I'm eating these fruits as described above, I start to enjoy the taste of the skin (as long as it's in moderation)  Same thing is true with most jaboticabas.

I hope you enjoy this fruit (m vexator), but I won't blame you if you don't.  They are definitely not for everyone.

keep us posted, I think you'll have fruits on your tree to taste in July of 2013...just give it a bit more water, and fert!

 

[FlyingFoxFruits]

I did an inverted root graft of the green sapote today, onto green sapote rootstock.

I found out that the longer you wait, past a certain point, the tap root becomes harder to split down the middle, in preparation for scion insertion.  it has a tendency to become more brittle, and prone to splitting much further down than you might intend to cut!

I think the graft i did has a good chance of success.

now is a great time for grafting a few of my favorite Eugenias I believe...so I did some of those too.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Unwrapped my Ross sapote, inverted root graft, onto cansitel.

it was very hard to unwrap the graft union!

The rootstock is so fragile, being that it got flipped upside down, and has no tap root.

I almost caused some trauma to the roots while pulling of the buddy tape from the graft union...but I think the tree will handle the stress just fine.

It hasn't really pushed out any new growth at the top, just one small shoot at the bottom of the scion.  So this is one of those grafts that I felt needed to have the tape cut off of the graft union, even though it hasn't flushed out with a new set of leaves.

After removal of the tape from about the graft union, I inspected the healing wounds...and they had fused quite well, with a strange callus at the top of the graft union.

If this tree continues to thrive, I will make sure to post some pics soon.

the hardest part of doing this graft, is removing the tape from the union of the graft....the cuts are so low down near the dirt, its a very precarious undertaking.

[Cookie Monster]

In my experience with green sapote, it groweth excruciatingly slow for about the first 5 months. In that time, it pouped out 2 tiny leaves (two growth flushes consisting of 1 tiny leaf each). Once it finally rooted out a little, it actually started growing reasonably well, putting out a semi-normal growth flush.

So, the rooting out is the hardest part. It takes major patience. Once the tree gets bigger, I'm going to take my grinder and grind off those giant mickey mouse ear callouses.

That's going to be pretty rad when your tree grows out. There are a couple of inverted rootstock canistels growing at fairchild farm that are ultra tiny, despite being several years old.

Unwrapped my Ross sapote, inverted root graft, onto cansitel.

it was very hard to unwrap the graft union!

The rootstock is so fragile, being that it got flipped upside down, and has no tap root.

I almost caused some trauma to the roots while pulling of the buddy tape from the graft union...but I think the tree will handle the stress just fine.

It hasn't really pushed out any new growth at the top, just one small shoot at the bottom of the scion.  So this is one of those grafts that I felt needed to have the tape cut off of the graft union, even though it hasn't flushed out with a new set of leaves.

After removal of the tape from about the graft union, I inspected the healing wounds...and they had fused quite well, with a strange callus at the top of the graft union.

If this tree continues to thrive, I will make sure to post some pics soon.

the hardest part of doing this graft, is removing the tape from the union of the graft....the cuts are so low down near the dirt, its a very precarious undertaking.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

thanks cookiemonster!

I've been inverted root grafting more of these pouterias each week!

next, is abiu on inverted rootstock!

BTW, I would leave the callus alone!  I bet it will be less prominent as the tree gets older!

don't risk hurting the tree!
thanks very much for the details about your green sapotes growth after grafting!

I was scared mine was lagging behind because of some chilly weather.

I hope these really make them dwarf and precocious!

[Rtreid]

Adam

Thanks for the update. This is just too cool, hopefully with a bit more experience and a few more seedlings I'll give something like that a try.

Richard

[FlyingFoxFruits]

thanks Richard!

I will send you budwood if you ever need!

(abiu, green sapote, Mamey, Canistel, Ross, and more)

I hope you try sooner than later!
 
keep me posted.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

I found the time to take a quick pic of the graft union I've been talking so much about.

[Cookie Monster]

whoo hoo. look at that cambium growth.

I found the time to take a quick pic of the graft union I've been talking so much about.

[Tim]

Nicely done, Adam.  Looks like it's going to callus up like Jeff's mickey mouse ears with that fierce cambium growth.

The next one you graft, put it in clear plastic pot.  It'd be interesting to observe root development.

[Californiatropicals]

Very well done..  A question. If the specimen in a 1 or 5 gallon container? I'm trying to get an idea of the relative size of the root stock when you grafted it.

Thanks 

[bsbullie]

Very well done..  A question. If the specimen in a 1 or 5 gallon container? I'm trying to get an idea of the relative size of the root stock when you grafted it.

Thanks 

Just want to make sure you understand here, the root stock is inverted and the, or any, vegetative shoot is cut off...the tap root is then cut and a cleft cut is done on the tap root with the scion inserted into the cleft cut in the tap root.  The seed is then replanted with the graft union above soil level.  I only explain this as you ask about the size of the rootstock.  With this type of graft, you are looking for a very healthy, unbranched tap root with no, or very little, apical vegetative shoot.  I know my description may SOUND easy but this type of graft is in no way easy.

[fyliu]

I've been reading the other inverted root graft threads. I'm sure this was addressed but if you're turning it upside down and putting a scion on the taproot, do you leave enough taproot under the soil to form roots?