Vol. 10, Special Issue 1, Part B (2026)

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is traditionally propagated from seeds, but this results in considerable variability among seedlings due to cross-pollination, leading to inconsistent orchard performance. Vegetative propagation through grafting offers a dependable alternative, provided there is compatibility between the scion and rootstock. Hence, the present study designed to know the grafting effectiveness of six Annona species i.e. A. muricata, A. squamosa, A. glabra, A. reticulata, A. montana, and A. mucosa as potential rootstocks for soursop in controlled nursery conditions. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) including six treatments with four replications was employed for softwood grafting. In documented data about graft success, plant survival, vegetative growth, root development, specific leaf weight (SLW), and chlorophyll content at 30-, 60-, and 90-days post-grafting (DAG). The results revealed that A. montana and A. reticulata exhibited the highest compatibility with soursop, with graft success rates of 80.00% and 62.50%, and survival rates of 67.50% and 55.00%, respectively. These rootstocks facilitated early sprouting, promoted higher shoots, increased leaf production, enhanced graft unions, and developed more robust root systems. Conversely, grafts on A. squamosa and A. glabra were entirely unsuccessful by 90 days after grafting, indicating that the two species were incompatible either physically or physiologically. Grafts on A. montana and A. reticulata exhibited significantly enhanced physiological characteristics, including specific leaf weight (SLW) and chlorophyll content. This indicates that the leaves exhibited more strength and photosynthesis functioned more efficiently. The research indicates that A. montana and A. reticulata serve as effective rootstocks for enhancing graft success and initial growth in soursop.