What is the Difference Between Budding and Grafting

The main difference between budding and grafting is that in budding, a bud of one plant grows on the root system of a second plant whereas, in grafting, the upper part of one plant grows on the root system of a second plant. Furthermore, budding is a newly-emerging method while grafting was practiced 4000 years ago.

Budding and grafting are two techniques in horticulture in which parts of different plants are joined together to grow as a single plant. In both techniques, the upper part of the plant is called the scion while the used root system is called rootstock. In addition, the plant upon which the scion is grafted is called the stock.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Budding
     – Definition, Characteristics, Examples
2. What is Grafting
     – Definition, Characteristics, Examples
3. What are the Similarities Between Budding and Grafting
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Budding and Grafting
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Artificial Vegetative Propagation Methods, Bud, Budding, Grafting, Part of a Stem, Scion, Stock

What is Budding

Budding is a technique of horticulture in which a bud from one plant is cut off and inserted into the stock. Here, the bud should be cut off with some bark around it. When inserting, the cambium layer of the stock has to be in direct contact with the cambium layer of the bud. The budding has to be carried out during active growing season of the stock.

Figure 1: T-Bud

There are several budding techniques, but the most important types are T-bud (shield bud), patch bud, and chip bud. Generally, T bud is the method for the propagation of fruits as well as most ornamental trees. On the other hand, patch bud and chip bud are mainly used for nut trees.

What is Grafting

Grafting is another technique of horticulture in which a part of a stem is used as a scion. It works well when the plant is dormant. The plants used in grafting have to be closely related. However, some plants in different genera can also be used; for example; the grafting of pear on quince. Although the scion grows on another stock, all the leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds produced by the scion are related to the plant from which it is taken. Moreover, the nutrients supplied by the rootstock may not be the same as the original plant of the scion. Therefore, grafting is the best method for stock that bears poor-quality fruit in naturally. It makes the stock produce high-quality fruit when the scion is from a plant with high-quality fruit.

Figure 2: A Consolidated “V” Graft

Some of the most important methods of grafting are whip/tongue grafting, bark grafting, and cleft grafting.

Similarities Between Budding and Grafting

• Budding and grafting are two horticulture techniques used to join different parts of plants.
• Both are methods of artificial propagation of plants.
• Furthermore, the plants used in both these techniques have to be closely related.
• In both methods, a scion of one plant is inserted into a stock, letting the scion grow.
• Therefore, the products of the scion are related to its original plant.
• Also, the rootstock gives the new plant hardiness, drought and disease tolerance.
• Both techniques mostly accomplish the same result; hence, it is difficult to identify whether a tree has been budded or grafted after a few years.
• However, both methods have to be performed by expert technicians.

Difference Between Budding and Grafting

Definition

Budding refers to a horticultural technique in which a bud of one plant is inserted into a second plant while grafting refers to a horticultural technique in which a part of a stem is inserted into a second plant. This explains the main difference between budding and grafting.

Timing

Although budding is a newly-emerging technique of horticulture, grafting is an ancient method continuous up to date.

Correspondence

While budding is a type of grafting, grafting is a vegetative propagation method of plants.

Scion

Another difference between budding and grafting is that the scion is a bud in budding while the scion is a part of the stem in grafting.

Growth Period

Also, budding is done during the active growing season of the stock while grafting is done when the stock is dormant in the winter and early spring.

Types

T-bud, inverted T-bud, patch bud, chip bud, I-bud, forkert bud, flute bud, ring/annular bud, etc. are several types of budding while cleft graft, bark graft, whip graft, side-veneer graft, splice graft, saddle graft, bridge graft, inarch graft, etc. are several types of grafting.

Importance

Moreover, budding is mainly used in fruits, ornamental trees, and nut trees while grafting is mainly used to increase the quality of the fruit, flower or leaves.

Conclusion

Budding is the placing of a bud of one plant on another plant while grafting is the placing of a part of the stem on another plant. Both are artificial vegetative propagation methods of plants. The main difference between budding and grafting is the type of scion used in each technique.

Reference:

 1. Bilderback, Ted, et al. “Grafting and Budding Nursery Crop Plants | NC State Extension Publications.” NC State Extension Publications, 30 June 2014, Available Here

Image Courtesy:

1. “Okulera” By User Chrizz on sv.wikipedia – sv:Användare:Chrizz0 (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2. “Zweijährige-Geißfußveredelu” By No machine-readable author provided. Kobako assumed (based on copyright claims). – No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY-SA 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia