Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2023) | Viewed by 22886

Special Issue Editor

College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
Interests: vegetable grafting; graft healing; graft compatibility; rootstock–scion interaction; long distance signaling; grafted seedling
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Grafting is an asexual propagation technique that has been used in horticulture for many centuries, and it is being increasingly widely used today. The main purpose of grafting is to assist plants in the adaptation to biotic stress, such as resistance to soilborne disease, and abiotic stress conditions including drought, salinity, waterlogging, suboptimal temperatures, and mineral deficiency, and to modify plant architecture, induce precocious flowering and rejuvenate old perennial varieties. Grafting has also increasingly served as a tool to investigate the long-distance transport of molecules, which is an essential part of key biological processes. Although grafting plays a central role in the successful production of many horticultural crops, the underlying mechanisms of graft healing, compatibility, rootstock–scion interaction and stress tolerance remain largely unknown. In addition, knowledge on the grafted seedling production technique and rootstock breeding is also not sufficient. Therefore, the main aim of this Special Issue is to publish papers focusing on recent scientific progress and innovation in Horticultural Grafting, from the perspectives of both practical horticulture and basic plant biology, such as grafted seedling production, rootstock breeding, graft healing, compatibility, rootstock–scion interaction, mechanisms for enhancing stress tolerance and fruit quality and yield. We strongly believe that this Special Issue will foster the development of the field of Horticultural Grafting.

Dr. Yuan Huang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • plant grafting
  • rootstock breeding
  • grafted seedling
  • rootstock biotechnology
  • graft healing
  • graft compatibility/incompatibility
  • rootstock–scion interaction
  • long distance signaling
  • biotic stress
  • abiotic stress

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 6450 KiB  
Article
Melon Robotic Grafting: A Study on the Precision Cutting Mechanism and Experimental Validation
by Shan Chen, Huan Liang, Qian Zhang, Qingchun Feng, Tao Li, Liping Chen and Kai Jiang
Agriculture 2023, 13(11), 2139; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13112139 - 13 Nov 2023
Viewed by 794
Abstract
The grafting machine cutting step is the core step of the grafting process. The existing grafting machine cutting mechanism adopts fixed angle cutting and manually adjusts the cutting angle based on experience, and the cutting angle is not definite for rootstock cutting in [...] Read more.
The grafting machine cutting step is the core step of the grafting process. The existing grafting machine cutting mechanism adopts fixed angle cutting and manually adjusts the cutting angle based on experience, and the cutting angle is not definite for rootstock cutting in different growth periods. In this paper, we proposed a method to guide the precise cutting mechanism according to internal and external parameters of melon rootstock at a specific period. First, we constructed a cutting model based on internal and external characteristics of rootstock cutting in the growth period of “two leaves and one core” and clarified the safe cutting area. Second, we designed a rotary precision cutting mechanism for rootstock cutting with automatic angle adjustment and constructed the displacement equation of the cutting trajectory of the cutter according to the cutting model. Last, we examined the cutting effect of the precision cutting mechanism and determined the precise cutting angle of the rootstock cutting mechanism in the growth period. Finally, the cutting effect of the precision cutting mechanism was examined, and the precision cutting angle of the rootstock during the growth period was determined. A comparison test between the precision cutting mechanism and the traditional cutting mechanism was carried out, and visual images of the incision were captured and analyzed. The results show that under the five horizontal cutting angles in the safe cutting area of rootstock, the length of the cut surface is inversely proportional to the cutting angle, and the flatness of the cut surface is directly proportional to the cutting angle. Comprehensive evaluation of the length of the cut surface, the cutting success rate, and the quality of cutting revealed that the average cutting angle of the precision cutting mechanism in the safe cutting area (26°) is better than that of the traditional cutting mechanism. It meets the technical requirements of the cutting technology for mechanically grafted rootstocks. The results provide a reference for studying new rootstock precision cutting mechanisms and cutting angle adaptive control models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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15 pages, 2276 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Four-Seasonal Quality and Yield of Cut Flower Roses Grafted onto Rosa Rootstocks
by O-Hyeon Kwon, Hyo-Gil Choi, Se-Jin Kim and Won-Hee Kim
Agriculture 2022, 12(11), 1848; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12111848 - 04 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1361
Abstract
Cut roses are ornamental crops that are produced year-round, and the quality and yield of these cut flowers vary depending on the temperature and light intensity of the four seasons. Grafting improves productivity by increasing adaptability to negative environments, such as high temperature [...] Read more.
Cut roses are ornamental crops that are produced year-round, and the quality and yield of these cut flowers vary depending on the temperature and light intensity of the four seasons. Grafting improves productivity by increasing adaptability to negative environments, such as high temperature and low light intensity. The effectiveness of grafting depends on the type of the scion and rootstock. In order to confirm the effectiveness of stenting on roses, two varieties of cut roses (Rosa hybrida cv. Pink Beauty and Pink Shine) were grafted onto three rootstocks (R. multiflora Natal Briar, R. indica Major, and Rosa multiflora Hort. No. 1), which are widely used in cut rose, and the quality and yield of the cut flowers were investigated year-round according to the four seasons; then, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. The Rosa hybrida cv. Pink Beauty (PB) used as the scion showed high yield and excellent growth in autumn when the light intensity was high and the temperature was low. The PB grafted onto the R. multiflora Natal Briar (NA) rootstock showed improved growth in spring, autumn and winter, excluding summer, and had the effect of lengthening the stem. The growth of PB grafted onto R. indica Major (RI) rootstock was also improved in spring, autumn, and winter, except summer, and in particular, the stem was lengthened and thickened. The rosa hybrida cv. Pink Shine (PS) was a variety whose yield of cut flowers increased in summer when the temperature was high. The PS grafted onto the three rootstocks gave a higher yield of cut flowers than the PS scion. The graft of PS/Natal Briar gave longer stems than the PS scion, and the graft of PS/Major gave thicker stems than the PS scion. PS grafted onto the Rosa multiflora Hort. No. 1 (N1) rootstock gave more petals than the PS scion. As such, cut roses grafted onto the Rosa canina cv. Natal brier (NA) improved the stem length, increasing the adaptability to relatively high temperatures, and the Rosa indica cv. Major (RI) improved the stem length and stem diameter, enhancing the adaptability to relatively low temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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17 pages, 1930 KiB  
Article
Trifoliate Orange-Related Rootstocks Enhance the Horticultural Performance of ‘Shamouti’ Sweet Orange under Humid Subtropical Condition
by Deived Uilian de Carvalho, Rui Pereira Leite Junior, Inês Fumiko Ubukata Yada and Zuleide Hissano Tazima
Agriculture 2022, 12(11), 1782; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12111782 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1656
Abstract
The narrow genetic pool for both scions and rootstocks used in the Brazilian orchards makes the citrus industry vulnerable to biotic and abiotic threats. Orchard diversification by using different scion–rootstock combinations is an efficient measure to promote citrus protection, through increasing the level [...] Read more.
The narrow genetic pool for both scions and rootstocks used in the Brazilian orchards makes the citrus industry vulnerable to biotic and abiotic threats. Orchard diversification by using different scion–rootstock combinations is an efficient measure to promote citrus protection, through increasing the level of genetic diversity. In this paper, we report the horticultural performance of the mid-season ‘Shamouti’ sweet orange grafted on five different rootstocks (‘Rangpur’ lime, ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, ‘C-13′ citrange, and ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Sunki’ mandarins) in a long-term experiment (2007–2017) under the Brazilian humid subtropical condition. ‘Shamouti’ trees were assessed for vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality. Additionally, a study was performed to estimate tree density and yield for new plantings. Trees grafted on ‘Swingle’ and ‘C-13′ rootstocks were less vigorous and more productive, with cumulative yields of >480 kg per tree, allowing high-density plantings (363–337 trees·ha−1). Trees on ‘Cleopatra’, ‘Sunki’, and ‘Rangpur’ were the most vigorous among the tested rootstocks, with tree heights > 4.20 m. However, they took longer to establish in the field, evidenced by their growth progress. These combinations also displayed the lowest tree density estimation (≤311 trees·ha−1). Trees on ‘Cleopatra’ exhibited the lowest cumulative yield (255 kg per tree). Although some significant differences were found for fruit quality, all rootstock combinations produced fruit of suitable quality, attending the commercial grading. Our findings evidence the potential of the trifoliate orange-related rootstocks ‘C-13′ and ‘Swingle’ to be used as promising rootstocks for ‘Shamouti’ cultivation in the humid subtropics, promoting genetic diversification and enhancing yield and tree density in new orchards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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16 pages, 2979 KiB  
Article
Study on the Method of Matched Splice Grafting for Melon Seedlings Based on Visual Image
by Pengyun Xu, Tong Zhang, Liping Chen, Wenqian Huang and Kai Jiang
Agriculture 2022, 12(7), 929; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12070929 - 27 Jun 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1995
Abstract
Due to the cutting mechanism of the existing grafting machine, it cannot adjust the cutting angle in real time, resulting in low fitting precision on the cutting surfaces between the rootstocks and scion seedlings and, thus, seriously affecting the survival rate and quality [...] Read more.
Due to the cutting mechanism of the existing grafting machine, it cannot adjust the cutting angle in real time, resulting in low fitting precision on the cutting surfaces between the rootstocks and scion seedlings and, thus, seriously affecting the survival rate and quality of the grafting seedlings. In this paper, a kind of splice grafting method based on visual image is proposed, aiming at maximizing the joint rate between cutting surfaces of rootstocks and scion seedlings and realizing precise cutting and grafting of grafting machine. After analysis, we determined that melon rootstock seedlings have a structure of pith cavity inside, and the solid structure from the top of the pith cavity to the left and right base points of a growing point forms the important area of a cutting surface. In order to obtain the geometric model of the cutting surfaces of the seedlings, a visual image analysis system was established to identify, analyze, and model the pith cavity structure inside the rootstock seedling, as well as the external morphological characteristics, and the ultimate cutting angle of the rootstock seedling and cutting surface parameters were determined. By measuring the length of minor axis of scion seedlings in order to achieve the maximum joint rate, the optimal cutting angle of the rootstocks and scion seedlings was determined. Then grafting and seedling cultivation tests were carried out. The test results showed that the range of ultimate cutting angle on rootstock seedlings (Cucurbita moschata) was 18.21 ± 1.92°; the cutting angles of the rootstock (Cucurbita moschata) and scion seedlings (watermelon) were 22° and 19.68°, respectively; the cutting surface length of the two was 4.96 mm; and the cutting surface thickness of the rootstock was 0.13 mm, all of which could satisfy the technological requirements of the matched splice grafting of melons. The research results can serve as a reference for the design in vision-guided precision cutting and real-time grafting operation on grafting robots. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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16 pages, 1831 KiB  
Article
Design and Experiment of Automatic Clip-Feeding Mechanism for Vegetable-Grafting Robot
by Kai Jiang, Wenzhong Guo, Liping Chen, Wenqian Huang, Yiyuan Ge and Xiaoming Wei
Agriculture 2022, 12(3), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12030346 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2430
Abstract
Aiming to solve the problems of poor performance and low stability in the automatic clip-feeding of a grafting machine, an automatic clip-feeding mechanism with a precise single-clip discharge mechanism was designed, and a clip-feeding performance test was carried out. Taking the grafting clip [...] Read more.
Aiming to solve the problems of poor performance and low stability in the automatic clip-feeding of a grafting machine, an automatic clip-feeding mechanism with a precise single-clip discharge mechanism was designed, and a clip-feeding performance test was carried out. Taking the grafting clip of the 2TJGQ-800 type of vegetable-grafting robot as the research object, the clamping-force analysis model of the grafting clip was constructed by ABUQUS finite-element analysis software, and the variation law of clamping force, steel wire diameter, and opening deformation, as well as the calculation equation of clamping force, were obtained. The grafting clip model was verified by mechanical test, and test results showed that the grafting clip with a steel wire diameter of 0.7 mm proved safe and reliable for grafted cucumber and watermelon seedlings; the grafting clip with steel wire diameter of 0.8 mm had a risk of producing injury to grafted cucumber and watermelon seedlings when clamping. The method of single-clip discharge in the inclined discharging slideway was put forward, and the components for clip discharge and clip pushing were designed. The critical thrust for sending out the grafting clip in the clip-feeding slideway was 0.603 N after analyzing the force status of the grafting clip in the clip-feeding slideway. Test results showed that the success rate of automatic clip-feeding reached 98.67% when inclination angle of row-discharging slideway was 50° and the thrust of clip-pushing cylinder (input air pressure of 0.4 MPa) was 8.04 N, which met the technical requirements of mechanical grafting. The inclination of the grafting clip and the damaged clip in the feeding slideway is the main reason for the failure of clip-feeding. The research results can provide theoretical and design references for the innovative research of the automatic clip-feeding mechanism of grafting robots. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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15 pages, 1176 KiB  
Article
Salt Tolerant Eggplant Rootstocks Modulate Sodium Partitioning in Tomato Scion and Improve Performance under Saline Conditions
by Satish Kumar Sanwal, Anita Mann, Arvind Kumar, Hari Kesh, Gurpreet Kaur, Arvind Kumar Rai, Raj Kumar, Parbodh C. Sharma, Ashwani Kumar, Anant Bahadur, Bijendra Singh and Pradeep Kumar
Agriculture 2022, 12(2), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020183 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2877
Abstract
Grafting on salt tolerant eggplant rootstocks can be a promising approach for enhancing the salinity tolerance of tomato. In this study, the performance of tomato cv. Kashi Aman grafted on two salt tolerant eggplant rootstocks (IC-111056 and IC-354557) was evaluated against non-grafted control [...] Read more.
Grafting on salt tolerant eggplant rootstocks can be a promising approach for enhancing the salinity tolerance of tomato. In this study, the performance of tomato cv. Kashi Aman grafted on two salt tolerant eggplant rootstocks (IC-111056 and IC-354557) was evaluated against non-grafted control under saline (ECiw 6 and 9 dS m−1) and non-saline (ECiw ~1 dS m−1) irrigation for 2 years. Grafting improved tomato plant performance under salt stress. Moreover, rootstock IC-111056 outperformed IC-354557. An increase in the average fruit yield of grafted plants compared with non-grafted control at 6 and 9 dS m−1 was 24.41% and 55.84%, respectively with rootstock IC-111056 and 20.25% and 49.08%, respectively with IC-354557. Grafted plants maintained a superior water status under saline irrigation, evidenced with the relative water content and chlorophyll SPAD index, along with higher proline and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase). Rootstocks mediated the partitioning of toxic saline ions in the scions by promoting higher Na+ accumulation (14% of mean accumulation) in the older leaves and lower (24%) in the younger leaves of grafted plants. This resulted in higher K+/Na+ ratios within the younger (active) leaves of the grafted plants. Our study demonstrates that grafting tomato seedlings on selected salt tolerant eggplant rootstocks is a viable alternative for improving plant physiological status and fruit yield under salt stress, through favorable modulation of salt ion partitioning in the scions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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14 pages, 4163 KiB  
Article
Creep Modelling of Rootstock during Holding in Watermelon Grafting
by Kang Wu, Jianzhong Lou, Chen Li, Wei Luo, Congcong Li and Jianping Li
Agriculture 2021, 11(12), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121266 - 14 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1793
Abstract
The fragile structure of a rootstock predisposes the stem to mechanical damage during grafting. Thus, it is necessary to take into account the rootstock’s rheological properties under mechanical compression when designing a clamping mechanism. This study focused on cucurbit, a typical rootstock for [...] Read more.
The fragile structure of a rootstock predisposes the stem to mechanical damage during grafting. Thus, it is necessary to take into account the rootstock’s rheological properties under mechanical compression when designing a clamping mechanism. This study focused on cucurbit, a typical rootstock for watermelon grafting. Firstly, we adopted a four-element Burgers model to analyze viscoelastic behavior and deformation characteristics of the rootstock, then conducted creep tests to obtain the parameters of the viscoelastic model. Next, we developed a model for the rootstock during holding based on viscoelastic parameters, loading force and contact time. Moreover, we evaluated the effect of various loading forces and test velocities on creep deformation to reveal the least damage on the rootstock. Results showed that the influence of loading force on the creep deformation was greater than test velocity. Finally, the holding test indicated that the clamping mechanism with silicone rubber can effectively prevent the damage to the stem. Specifically, the loading force should be controlled below 4 N to reduce the associated damage. Taken together, our findings provide a theoretical basis for analyzing the holding damage mechanism during watermelon grafting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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12 pages, 3316 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Characterization of Glutamine Synthetase Family Genes in Cucurbitaceae and Their Potential Roles in Cold Response and Rootstock-Scion Signaling Communication
by Xiaojun Li, Xiaohong Lu, Mengshuang Liu, Chenggang Xiang, Wenqian Liu, Cuicui Wang, Xiaojing Zhang, Tao Wang, Zixi Liu, Lihong Gao and Wenna Zhang
Agriculture 2021, 11(11), 1156; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11111156 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1962
Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2, L-glutamate: ammonia ligase ADP-forming) is the key enzyme responsible for the primary assimilation and reassimilation of nitrogen (N) in higher plants. There are two main isoforms of GS in higher plants, classified as cytosolic GS (GS1) and chloroplastic [...] Read more.
Glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2, L-glutamate: ammonia ligase ADP-forming) is the key enzyme responsible for the primary assimilation and reassimilation of nitrogen (N) in higher plants. There are two main isoforms of GS in higher plants, classified as cytosolic GS (GS1) and chloroplastic GS (GS2) by their size and subcellular localization. In order to improve the stress tolerance, quality, and yield of cucurbit crops such as cucumbers (Csa, Cucumis sativus L.), pumpkins (Cmo, Cucurbita moschata var. Rifu) are often used as rootstocks. Here, the GS family of the two species were comprehensively analyzed using bioinformatics in terms of aspects of the phylogenic tree, gene structure, chromosome location, subcellular localization, and evolutionary and expression patterns. Seven and four GS gene family members were screened in pumpkin and cucumber, respectively. GS family genes were divided into three groups (one for GS2 and two for GS1) according to their homology and phylogenetic relationships with other species. The analysis of gene ontology annotation of GS family genes, promoter regulatory elements, and tissue-specific expression patterns indicates the potential different biological roles of GS isoforms in Cucurbitaceae. In particular, we have identified a potentially available gene (GS1: CmoCh08G004920) from pumpkin that is relatively highly expressed and tissue-specifically expressed. RT-PCR analysis showed that most CmoGSs are induced by low temperature, and long-term (day 2 to day 9) cold stress has a more obvious effect on the RNA abundance of CmoGS. Our work presents the structure and expression patterns of all candidate members of the pumpkin and cucumber GS gene family, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such work has been presented. It is worth focusing on the candidate genes with strong capacity for improving pumpkin rootstock breeding in order to increase nitrogen-use efficiency in cold conditions, as well as rootstock-scion communication. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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13 pages, 19429 KiB  
Article
A New Grafting Method for Watermelon to Inhibit Rootstock Regrowth and Enhance Scion Growth
by Changjin Liu, Weiguo Lin, Chongran Feng, Xiangshuai Wu, Xiaohu Fu, Mu Xiong, Zhilong Bie and Yuan Huang
Agriculture 2021, 11(9), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11090812 - 26 Aug 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2871
Abstract
Grafting is a widely used technique in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production. However, cost of grafted seedlings is generally high as a result of intensive labor inputs for propagation using traditional grafting methods such as the manual removal of rootstock regrowth. This [...] Read more.
Grafting is a widely used technique in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production. However, cost of grafted seedlings is generally high as a result of intensive labor inputs for propagation using traditional grafting methods such as the manual removal of rootstock regrowth. This study developed a new grafting tool to physically remove the epidermis of pumpkin (C. maxima × C. moschata) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) rootstock cotyledon base during grafting; we called this a new grafting method. Compared with the traditional grafting, the new grafting method significantly decreased the pumpkin rootstock regrowth rate from 100% to 8% in hole insertion and 2% in one cotyledon grafting, respectively. These attenuated rates for bottle gourd rootstock regrowth were 23% and 9% in hole insertion and one cotyledon grafting, respectively. The scion dry weights of new hole insertion and one cotyledon grafting were increased by 78% and 74% when pumpkin was used as rootstock as compared with traditional grafting without regrown rootstock removal, while the respective values were 33% and 17% in bottle gourd rootstock grafted plants. In addition, the time used for the new hole insertion grafting method to physically remove the epidermis of pumpkin rootstock cotyledon base was significantly shorter than the time required to remove the rootstock regrowth manually three times in the traditional grafting (4.2 s/plant vs. 9.3 s/plant). Similar results were also observed in the new one cotyledon grafting (4.2 s/plant vs. 8.8 s/plant). Taken together, this study presents a new method in watermelon grafting to reduce rootstock regrowth, therefore benefiting both scion growth and plant management, thus the development of this new method is clearly useful in watermelon production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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Review

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19 pages, 1758 KiB  
Review
Review and Prospect for Vegetable Grafting Robot and Relevant Key Technologies
by Guoping Yan, Maoshuo Feng, Weiguo Lin, Yuan Huang, Ruizheng Tong and Yan Cheng
Agriculture 2022, 12(10), 1578; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12101578 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3015
Abstract
Grafting is an effective way to overcome the obstacles of continuous soil cropping and improve the tolerance of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses. An automatic grafting robot can effectively improve the grafting efficiency and survival rate of grafted seedlings, which is an [...] Read more.
Grafting is an effective way to overcome the obstacles of continuous soil cropping and improve the tolerance of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses. An automatic grafting robot can effectively improve the grafting efficiency and survival rate of grafted seedlings, which is an important demand for the commercialization and promotion of vegetable planting. Based on the six main grafting technologies, this paper deeply summarized and analyzed the research status, technical characteristics, and development trends of vegetable grafting robots developed by various countries in the world. At the same time, it focused on the design methods and characteristics of key components such as seedling picking device, clamping device, and cutting device of vegetable grafting robots in detail. Then, the application of machine vision in the grafting robot was compared from the aspects of seed information feature recognition, automatic seedling classification, seedling state detection, and auxiliary grafting. It also was pointed out that machine vision technology was the only way to realize the fully automated grafting of vegetable grafting robots. Finally, several constraints, such as the limited grafting speed of vegetable grafting robots were pointed out, and the future development direction of grafting robots was predicted. As a result, it is believed that the intelligence degree of vegetable grafting robots needs to be improved, and its research and development fail to integrate with the seedling biotechnology, which leads to its poor universality. In the future, improving machine vision, artificial intelligence, and automation technology will help the development of high-performance universal grafting robots. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Grafting)
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