Performance of Ten Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Genotypes as Scions for Nursery Production of Grafted Plants

Abstract

Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s leading producer of raw cashew nuts, yet orchard productivity remains limited by unselected planting material and environmental constraints. This study evaluated the suitability of ten cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) genotypes as scion sources for grafted-plant production under nursery conditions during the dry season. A split-plot experiment with three replicates was established using grafter technical skill as the main factor and genotype as the secondary factor. The genotypes evaluated were TPTO2, BTNYD1, KK36, PK18, DK17, C3, PK23, W9, A2SINE, and YKKF1. Graft take, leaf emergence, and plant survival were monitored weekly until the transplanting stage. Genotype significantly influenced graft take throughout the eight-week observation period and leaf emergence from weeks 3 to 8, whereas grafter technical skill and its interaction with genotype had no significant effects on these variables. C3, A2SINE, PK23, PK18, and BTNYD1 recorded the highest final graft-take rates, while PK23, A2SINE, KK36, and TPTO2 showed comparatively early or abundant leaf emergence. The overall mean graft-take rate at week 8 was 72.5%. Survival at the transplanting stage did not differ significantly among genotypes or between grafters, and all genotypes maintained survival rates above 60%. The findings indicate that scion genotype is important during early nursery establishment, although final survival was broadly comparable under the conditions tested. Genotypes combining satisfactory graft take, leaf development, and survival merit further evaluation across seasons and nursery environments.