Determination of characteristics factors of grafted natural varieties in landscaping: A case study of black pine (pinus nigra) clone

Abstract

Planting practices for landscaping require constant irrigation and fertilisation to keep exotic plants alive and to protect their aesthetic value. This requirement causes severe problems such as increased plant care costs due to irrigation, spraying, and fertilisation; and the plants die or landscape loses its value, should regular care not be provided. Most of these problems can be avoided using natural plant varieties in landscaping, and plant care costs related to irrigation, spraying, and fertilisation can be minimised. Furthermore, the natural varieties that adapt themselves to the environmental conditions are more resistant to plant diseases and pests. However, plants that are grown from seed demonstrate different growing characteristics in the advancing years, and plants that are not appropriate for the intended use may come into existence. Accordingly, the plants that do not have the intended function and appearance decrease the quality of the landscaping. Nevertheless, by being certain about the intended forms of the plants, and carrying out landscaping practices accordingly, several problems can be avoided. The objective of this study is to analyse the opportunities for using grafted black pines, one of the original forest tree varieties, in landscaping. In this sense, 20 years of development and change in the forms of grafted black pines were analysed; and the opportunities to use grafted saplings in landscaping practices were sought. The results of the study suggest that it is possible to produce plants with the intended forms by grafting the natural varieties.