S. Atanasova
Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
(Manuscript received 1 January 2026; accepted for publication 22 February 2026)
*e-mail: stanislava.atanasova@trakia-uni.bg
Abstract. The experiment was conducted at the “Bratya Minkovi” Fruit Nursery in Kazanlak, Bulgaria. The propagation of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) was monitored during the growing season (July-August). The study focused on scion-rootstock combinations involving the French cultivar „Florina“, the Australian „Granny Smith“, and the American „Golden Delicious“, all grafted onto the semi-vigorous MM106 EMLA (Malling Merton 106 EMLA, M106) clonal rootstock. The rootstocks were propagated via vertical layering (mound layering). Grafting was performed in the first-year nursery field on dormant buds using the chip budding technique. The highest results were observed in the „Florina“/MM106 combination, with a success rate of 96% based on callus formation and bud take. A lower success rate of 93% was recorded for the „Granny Smith“ cultivar. A total yield of 43,800 grafted trees per hectare was achieved in the nursery. The economic analysis confirmed the high efficiency of the applied technology, showing a profitability ratio of 23.26% and a net profit of 28,494.30 EUR/ha.