A method for managing cowpea sleeve graft seedlings

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of vegetable grafting, and discloses a cowpea sleeve grafting seedling management method, which comprises the steps of substrate preparation, stock and scion preparation, seedling management, seedling hardening treatment, grafting operation and grafting seedling management. By using an environmentally friendly rubber sleeve to replace the traditional clamp, the phloem is prevented from being compressed and deformed, and wound healing is promoted. By using a newspaper tube to block light and retain moisture, the cost is reduced and the growth environment is improved. By combining stepwise temperature and humidity regulation and disease control measures, the survival rate and stress resistance are improved. The present application solves the problems of phloem compression and deformation, high risk of wound infection, low survival rate and the like in traditional grafting technology, significantly improves the grafting efficiency and plant stress resistance, has the characteristics of simple operation and controllable cost, and is suitable for modern agricultural promotion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of vegetable grafting, and particularly relates to a method for managing cowpea sleeve grafted seedlings. Background Art

[0002] Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an important cash crop in Hainan Province, ranking second in the vegetable industry. Currently, mainstream grafting techniques rely on plastic or metal clamps to secure the rootstock and scion. However, these traditional methods have significant technical limitations in practical application, hindering productivity gains.

[0003] Traditional grafting (such as oblique grafting and plug grafting) relies on mechanical clamping, which can easily cause compression and deformation of the vascular bundle, hindering the vascular connection between the rootstock and scion, and affecting nutrient transport efficiency. Furthermore, the continuous pressure of the grafting clamp can delay the formation and differentiation of callus tissue, reducing the graft survival rate. Furthermore, direct contact between the grafting clamp and the incision may introduce pathogens such as Fusarium, increasing the risk of wound infection and leading to an increased incidence of wilt.

[0004] The stability of grafted seedlings is also limited. Due to the reliance on manual labor, graft damage rates can reach as high as 10%-30%, while survival rates fluctuate widely (50%-70%) and are significantly affected by operator experience. After grafting, repeated adjustments to clamping force are still required, increasing labor costs and management complexity. Traditional methods of grafted seedling management rely on shade nets to regulate light, which is not only costly but also creates a confined environment that easily breeds pathogens such as mold, further threatening the healthy growth of the grafted seedlings.

[0005] Therefore, the existing grafting technology has shortcomings in mechanical damage, shading dependence and biocompatibility. It is urgent to develop a new low-damage, low-cost and highly adaptable grafting technology to improve the survival rate and production efficiency of cowpea grafted seedlings. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the shortcomings of existing cowpea grafting techniques and provide a novel method for managing cowpea sleeve-grafted seedlings. By optimizing the grafting process, improving grafting materials, and innovating seedling management methods, this method addresses issues inherent in traditional grafting techniques, such as vascular bundle compression and deformation, high risk of wound infection, and low survival rates. It also significantly improves grafting efficiency and plant stress resistance.

[0007] In order to achieve the above technical objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0008] A method for managing cowpea sleeve grafted seedlings comprises the following steps:

[0009] S1. Substrate Preparation: Use a composite seedling substrate consisting of imported peat, coconut coir, vermiculite, sand, and sawdust, with the proportions of peat accounting for 40%, coconut coir accounting for 25%, vermiculite accounting for 15%, sand accounting for 10%, and sawdust accounting for 10%.

[0010] S2. Rootstock and scion preparation: Select plump, pest-free cowpea seeds as the rootstock and scion seeds and soak them. Soak the rootstock seeds in 35°C warm water for 2 hours before sowing them in plug trays at a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Similarly soak the scion seeds in warm water, but sow them two days later.

[0011] S3. Seedling management: During the seedling growth period, spray the seedlings twice with a nutrient solution at a ratio of 5 ml of chlorophyll to 30,000 ml of water. One day before grafting, disinfect and sterilize the scion and rootstock, and spray the plant surface with a solution of fludioxonil (10 ml of fludioxonil) in 30,000 ml of water.

[0012] S4. Hardening: Water control should be initiated 4-6 days before grafting, combined with intermittent irrigation to promote underground growth.

[0013] S5. Grafting: When the rootstock has two leaves and a heart, select an environmentally friendly rubber cannula with an inner diameter of 2.5-3mm, a wall thickness of 2mm, and a length of 2cm for grafting. Make a 1-2cm bevel cut at a 40-45° angle below the cotyledons of the rootstock. Make a 1-2cm bevel cut at the same angle 2cm below the growing point of the scion. Fit the two cuts tightly together and insert them into the cannula to complete the grafting.

[0014] S6. Grafted seedling management:

[0015] (1) On the first to third day after grafting, place the grafted seedlings on a special callus frame and cover them with newspaper tubes with a thickness of 0.06-0.08 mm to block light. The ambient temperature should be controlled at 28-30°C during the day and 23-25°C at night, and the humidity should be kept above 90%;

[0016] (2) From the 4th to the 6th day, gradually increase the amount of scattered light exposure, open the newspaper tube for ventilation once in the morning and evening, each time lasting 25-45 minutes, adjust the ambient temperature to 26-28°C during the day and 23-25°C at night, and maintain the humidity at around 85%;

[0017] (3) From the 7th to the 10th day, the adaptation period begins. Appropriately increase ventilation and reduce humidity. The daytime temperature is controlled at 25-30°C and the nighttime temperature is controlled at 20-23°C.

[0018] (4) After the 11th day, the plant will enter the normal growth period. The newspaper tubes should be completely removed. The daytime temperature should be controlled at 20-25℃ and the nighttime temperature should be controlled at 17-22℃. Fertilizer should be applied every 5-7 days. The fertilizer should be Polyfeng, potassium dihydrogen phosphate or Sacfu, with a concentration of 10-12.5ml to 10,000ml water.

[0019] Furthermore, in S3, the nutrient solution is sprayed when the seedling grows the first true leaf, with an interval of 7 days.

[0020] Furthermore, in S4, the intermittent irrigation operation is to water once every day between 9 and 11 am, and the amount of water each time is controlled to the extent that the substrate is completely moistened but no water accumulates.

[0021] Furthermore, in S5, the environmentally friendly rubber sleeve is made of natural rubber and has the characteristics of high toughness, corrosion resistance, non-toxicity and odorlessness.

[0022] Furthermore, in S6, the newspaper tube is made of mechanical wood pulp paper, contains lignin and other impurities, and has a light shielding rate of 90%. There are air holes distributed on the newspaper tube, the air hole diameter is 2 mm, and the hole spacing is 3 cm×3 cm.

[0023] Furthermore, in S6, a fungicide, Sterling plant inducer, was added during fertilization at a concentration of 5 ml to 10,000 ml of water.

[0024] Furthermore, in S6, the pest and disease control measures include: spraying 10 ml of 30% oxadiazon-methyl in 10,000 ml of water or 6 ml of oxadiazon-1-methyl in 10,000 ml of water 7 days after grafting, and spraying 3 ml of 50% dimethomorph in 10,000 ml of water during the seedling hardening period.

[0025] Furthermore, in S6, the ventilation operation controls the direction of airflow by adjusting the position and size of the greenhouse vents.

[0026] Furthermore, in S6, when checking the healing of the interface, it is necessary to gently touch the grafting site to confirm whether the sleeve is loose and the degree of incision healing.

[0027] Furthermore, direct watering is prohibited within 7 days after grafting, and a water tray is used to maintain humidity.

[0028] Beneficial effects of the present invention:

[0029] (1) The invented method avoids the problem of vascular bundle deformation due to compression by using an environmentally friendly rubber sleeve instead of a traditional clamp. At the same time, the flexibility of the sleeve ensures a close fit between the stock and the scion cut, promotes wound healing, and improves the grafting survival rate.

[0030] (2) The invention uses newspaper tubes instead of traditional sunshade nets, achieving multiple functions of shading, moisturizing, and cooling, while reducing overall costs. The breathable design of the newspaper tubes effectively avoids the problem of mold growth in a closed environment, providing healthier growth conditions for grafted seedlings.

[0031] (3) The invented method utilizes the advantages of natural high temperature through step-by-step temperature control and humidity management, combined with the climate characteristics of Sanya, and enhances the stress resistance of grafted seedlings by gradually cooling them, thereby ensuring the survival rate and promoting healthy growth.

[0032] (4) The invented method disinfects and sterilizes the rootstock and scion before grafting, which reduces the risk of disease. At the same time, the nutrient solution and fungicide are sprayed to provide comprehensive protection for the plant, further improving the quality and yield of the grafted seedlings.

[0033] (5) The inventive method has a simple and easy operation process, and can graft 2,100 plants per day, increasing work efficiency by more than 60%. As the technical cost is controllable and the effect is significant, it has broad promotion value and application prospects, and is of great significance to the development of modern agriculture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the grafted seedling of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 2 The rubber sleeve diagram used for cowpea grafting of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments. Example 1

[0037] A method for managing cowpea sleeve grafted seedlings comprises the following steps:

[0038] S1. Matrix Preparation:

[0039] Mix imported peat, coconut coir, vermiculite, sand, and sawdust in a ratio of 4:2.5:1.5:1:1 to form a composite seedling medium. Sterilize the composite seedling medium with high-temperature steam at 121°C for 30 minutes before use.

[0040] S2. Rootstock and scion preparation:

[0041] Plump, pest-free, Nanxing Jiangnan 328 cowpea seeds were selected as rootstocks, and Jiajiale No. 10 cowpea seeds were used as scion seeds. Both seeds were soaked. The rootstock seeds were soaked in 35°C warm water for 2 hours and then sown in 50-hole trays at a depth of 2 cm. The scion seeds were similarly soaked in warm water, but sown two days later. During the seedling raising process, the seedlings were observed daily, their growth was observed in the morning and evening, and weak or diseased seedlings were removed to ensure uniform seedling size within the tray.

[0042] S3. Seedling Management:

[0043] (1) When the seedlings grow their first true leaves, start spraying the nutrient solution twice, with a ratio of 5ml chlorophyll to 30,000ml water, with an interval of 7 days. When spraying, be careful to avoid direct contact of the solution with the leaf surface, and spray evenly from the top of the plant downwards.

[0044] (2) One day before grafting, disinfect and sterilize the scion and rootstock. Spray the plant surface with a solution of 10 ml of 10 ml of 10 ml of 10 ml of 10 ml of 10 ml of water, focusing on the stems and the back of the leaves to reduce the risk of disease. After disinfection, place the seedlings in a well-ventilated environment to dry and set aside.

[0045] S4. Hardening treatment:

[0046] Starting five days before grafting, use a combination of controlled watering and intermittent irrigation to promote underground plant growth. Water the plants daily between 9:00 and 11:00 AM, ensuring the substrate is completely moist but not waterlogged. During the hardening period, maintain an ambient temperature of 27°C during the day and 21°C at night, with a relative humidity of 70%.

[0047] S5. Grafting operation:

[0048] When the rootstock has grown to two leaves and one heart, choose an environmentally friendly rubber sleeve with an inner diameter of 3mm, a wall thickness of 2mm, and a length of 2cm for grafting. Make a 45° bevel cut of 1.8cm below the cotyledons of the rootstock. The incision must be smooth and neat, and the cut surface must be at a fixed angle to the axis of the stem. Make a 1.8cm bevel cut of the scion at the same angle 2cm below the growth point. Fit the incisions of the two tightly together and insert them into the sleeve to complete the grafting. When grafting, ensure that the vascular bundles of the rootstock and scion are aligned, and the position of the sleeve should just cover the entire incision area. It should not be too tight to cause compression and deformation of the tissue, nor too loose to affect the healing effect.

[0049] S6. Grafted seedling management:

[0050] (1) From day 1 to day 3, the grafted seedlings were placed on a special callus frame and covered with a 0.07 mm thick newspaper tube to block light. The newspaper tube was provided with ventilation holes, which were made by poking toothpicks. The hole diameter was approximately 2 mm and the hole spacing was 3 cm × 3 cm. The ambient temperature was controlled at 29°C during the day and 24°C at night, and the humidity was maintained above 90%.

[0051] (2) From the 4th to the 6th day, gradually increase the amount of diffuse light exposure. Open the newspaper tube once in the morning and evening to ventilate the seedlings, each time for 30 minutes. When ventilating, be careful to avoid direct cold wind blowing on the grafted seedlings. Control the direction of airflow by adjusting the position and size of the greenhouse vents. The ambient temperature is adjusted to 27°C during the day and 24°C at night, and the humidity is maintained at 85%.

[0052] (3) The acclimatization period begins on the 7th to 10th day. Increase ventilation and reduce humidity appropriately. Keep the daytime temperature at 26°C and the nighttime temperature at 21°C. Check the healing of the interface and remove any unsuccessful seedlings promptly. During the inspection, gently touch the grafted area to confirm whether the sleeve is loose and the degree of healing of the incision. Immediately remove infected or rotten plants from the seedbed and disinfect them.

[0053] (4) After the 11th day, the plant enters its normal growth phase. The newspaper tubes are completely removed. The daytime temperature is controlled at 23°C and the nighttime temperature is controlled at 20°C. Fertilize the plant every 7 days with potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), a high-quality water-soluble fertilizer, at a concentration of 11 ml per 10 L of water. Add the fungicide Sterling Plant Inducer at a concentration of 5 ml per 10 L of water to enhance the plant's resistance to stress.

[0054] (5) Pest and disease control:

[0055] Seven days after grafting, focus on controlling wilt and root rot by spraying 6ml of fludioxonil in 10,000ml of water. During the seedling hardening period, control blight and downy mildew by using 3ml of 50% dimethomorph in 10,000ml of water. Apply 200 seedlings per 10,000ml of solution. Apply in the evening to maximize absorption. Avoid the grafted area when spraying, focusing on the undersides of leaves and the base of the stem.

[0056] S7. Calculate the survival rate 15 days after grafting.

[0057] Comparative Example 1

[0058] Cowpeas were grafted using the traditional method and conventional shade nets were used to manage the grafted seedlings, i.e., the sleeves in Example 1 were replaced with plastic grafting clips, and the survival rate was calculated 15 days after grafting. The only difference from Example 1 was the grafting method and the grafted seedling management method; the remaining steps were the same.

[0059] As can be seen from Table 1, the data of Example 1 of the present invention and Comparative Example 1 show that the cowpea sleeve grafting seedling management method shows significant advantages in multiple key indicators. In terms of survival rate, Example 1 reached 97.3%, an increase of 27.6% over Comparative Example 1. This breakthrough is mainly due to the innovative application of rubber sleeves. Its unique flexible fixing method controls the vascular bundle damage rate to 4.83%, which is much lower than the 36.76% of the traditional method. In terms of disease prevention and control, the mold incidence rate of Example 1 is only 1.32%, a decrease of 95% over Comparative Example 1; the wilt incidence rate is controlled at 2.36%, and the prevention and control effect is improved by 87%. This is attributed to the dual protection mechanism formed by the effective inhibition of pathogens by the light-shading environment of the newspaper tube and the physical isolation effect of the sleeve. The economic benefits were also outstanding. The shading cost of Example 1 was only 43 yuan per mu, an 82.9% reduction compared to Comparative Example 1. The manual grafting efficiency reached 2,100 plants per day, a 61.5% increase. Based on a planting scale of 3,000 plants per mu, this saved approximately 150 yuan per mu in labor costs. These data fully demonstrate the comprehensive advantages of the present invention in improving grafting quality, enhancing disease resistance, and reducing production costs.

[0060] Table 1 Comparative analysis of technical indicators

[0061]

[0062] In summary, the present invention has achieved a breakthrough in the field of cowpea grafted seedling management by adopting an innovative combination of rubber sleeve flexible fixing technology and newspaper tube ecological shading system. Among them, the application of rubber sleeve effectively solves the key problem of mechanical damage to vascular bundles in traditional grafting technology, significantly reducing the damage rate from the conventional 36.76% to 4.83%; at the same time, the ecological shading system constructed with newspaper tubes not only achieves a high survival rate of 97.3%, but also forms a complete low-cost and high-efficiency management plan, which greatly reduces the overall production cost. This innovative technology system has achieved remarkable results in improving the grafting survival rate, enhancing disease prevention and control capabilities, and improving production efficiency. Its excellent comprehensive performance is particularly suitable for promotion and application in large-scale planting in modern agriculture, providing reliable technical support for improving the quality and efficiency of the cowpea industry.

Claims

1. A method for managing cowpea sleeve grafted seedlings, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Substrate Preparation: Use a composite seedling substrate consisting of imported peat, coconut coir, vermiculite, sand, and sawdust, with the proportions of peat accounting for 40%, coconut coir accounting for 25%, vermiculite accounting for 15%, sand accounting for 10%, and sawdust accounting for 10%. S2. Rootstock and scion preparation: Select plump, pest-free cowpea seeds as the rootstock and scion seeds and soak them. Soak the rootstock seeds in 35°C warm water for 2 hours before sowing them in plug trays at a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Similarly soak the scion seeds in warm water, but sow them two days later. S3. Seedling management: During the seedling growth period, spray the seedlings twice with a nutrient solution at a ratio of 5 ml of chlorophyll to 30,000 ml of water. One day before grafting, disinfect and sterilize the scion and rootstock, and spray the plant surface with a solution of fludioxonil (10 ml of fludioxonil) in 30,000 ml of water. S4. Hardening: Water control should be initiated 4-6 days before grafting, combined with intermittent irrigation to promote underground growth. S5. Grafting: When the rootstock has two leaves and a heart, select an environmentally friendly rubber cannula with an inner diameter of 2.5-3mm, a wall thickness of 2mm, and a length of 2cm for grafting. Make a 1-2cm bevel cut at a 40-45° angle below the cotyledons of the rootstock. Make a 1-2cm bevel cut at the same angle 2cm below the growing point of the scion. Fit the two cuts tightly together and insert them into the cannula to complete the grafting. S6. Grafted seedling management: (1) On the first to third day after grafting, place the grafted seedlings on a special callus frame and cover them with newspaper tubes with a thickness of 0.06-0.08 mm to block light. The ambient temperature should be controlled at 28-30°C during the day and 23-25°C at night, and the humidity should be kept above 90%; (2) From the 4th to the 6th day, gradually increase the amount of scattered light exposure, open the newspaper tube for ventilation once in the morning and evening, each time lasting 25-45 minutes, adjust the ambient temperature to 26-28°C during the day and 23-25°C at night, and maintain the humidity at around 85%; (3) On the 7th to 10th day, the adaptation period begins. Appropriately increase ventilation and reduce humidity. The daytime temperature should be controlled at 25-30°C and the nighttime temperature should be controlled at 20-23°C. Check the healing of the interface by gently touching the grafted site to confirm whether the sleeve is loose and the degree of incision healing. (4) After the 11th day, the plant enters the normal growth period. The newspaper tubes are completely removed. The daytime temperature is controlled at 20-25°C and the nighttime temperature is controlled at 17-22°C. Fertilizer is applied every 5-7 days. The fertilizer used is Polyfen, potassium dihydrogen phosphate or Sacfu, with a concentration of 10-12.5 ml to 10,000 ml of water. When applying fertilizer, add the fungicide Sterling plant inducer at a concentration of 5 ml to 10 L of water. (5) Pest and disease control: 7 days after grafting, use 10ml of 30% oxadiazon-methyl in 10,000ml of water or 6ml of oxadiazon-1 in 10,000ml of water for spraying. During the seedling hardening period, use 3ml of 50% oxadiazon-1 in 10,000ml of water for spraying.

2. A method for managing cowpea grafted seedlings according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S3, the nutrient solution is sprayed when the seedlings grow the first true leaf, with an interval of 7 days.

3. A method for managing cowpea grafted seedlings according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S4, the intermittent irrigation operation is to water once every morning between 9 and 11, and the amount of water each time is controlled to a degree that the substrate is completely moistened but no water accumulates.

4. A method for managing cowpea grafted seedlings according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S5, the environmentally friendly rubber sleeve is made of natural rubber and has the characteristics of high toughness, corrosion resistance, non-toxicity and odorlessness.

5. A method for managing cowpea sleeve grafted seedlings according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S6, the newspaper tube is made of mechanical wood pulp paper, contains lignin and other impurities, and has a light shielding rate of 90%. There are air holes distributed on the newspaper tube, the air hole diameter is 2 mm, and the hole spacing is 3 cm×3 cm.

6. A method for managing cowpea sleeve grafted seedlings according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S6, the ventilation operation controls the airflow direction by adjusting the position and size of the greenhouse vents.

7. A method for managing cowpea sleeve grafted seedlings according to claim 1, characterized in that: Direct watering is prohibited within 7 days after grafting, and a water tray should be used to maintain humidity.

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