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Understand the language of mango growing, one term at a time.
Browse definitions and growing concepts to expand your mango knowledge.
Callus is tissue formed as plant cells divide in response to injury or certain propagation conditions. At a mango graft it contributes to healing around the joined surfaces, but a visible swelling is not proof of a complete vascular connection. A scion can open buds briefly using stored reserves before failing. Judge graft success by sustained healthy growth and a sound union over time, while preventing wrapping material from becoming a constricting band.
Cambium is a thin region of actively dividing cells between the inner bark and the wood of a woody stem. During mango grafting, close alignment of living cambial regions helps the scion and rootstock form a functioning connection. Matching outer bark alone may not provide that contact when stems differ in thickness. Clean cuts, secure wrapping, and protection from movement support healing; pushing two cut surfaces together does not guarantee that their living tissues are correctly aligned.
Cleft grafting inserts a wedge-shaped scion into a split at the cut end of a stock or branch. In mango work, matching the living cambial regions along at least one suitable edge is more important than placing a thin scion exactly in the middle of a thick stock. Secure the join and protect exposed surfaces from drying and water entry. A successful technique on one stem size or season should not be treated as a guarantee for every tree.
A clone is a plant or group of plants produced from one source through asexual reproduction and generally sharing its genotype, apart from possible mutations. Mango grafting preserves the scion as a clone of the selected source rather than creating a new seedling genotype. Clonal identity does not make all trees perform identically: rootstock, soil, climate, health, and management still matter. A clone is also not automatically disease-free, so propagation hygiene and trustworthy source material remain important.
