Grafting in horticulture is used to join which two parts to combine desirable traits?

• A. Joining a scion to a rootstock to combine desirable traits
• B. To separate two plants
• C. To remove disease
• D. To increase soil nutrients

Answer: (A)

Grafting is a technique to join two plant parts so they grow as one, allowing you to combine desirable traits from each. The scion is the shoot or twig chosen for characteristics you want, like fruit quality or flower color, while the rootstock provides the root system, offering vigor, disease tolerance, or a restrained size. For a successful graft, the cambium layers of the scion and rootstock must align so vascular tissues connect, letting water, minerals, and sugars move between the parts and the plant to thrive as a single organism. Because the aim is to merge these traits into one plant, grafting isn’t about separating plants, removing disease, or directly increasing soil nutrients. Joining a scion to a rootstock to combine desirable traits is the intended purpose.