## 3 Results and Discussion
### Survival Rate of Grafted Seedlings  
After the short and long knives obliquely cut the scion and stock seedlings, the grafter uses the casing to graft them. Three trays of grafted seedlings were completed for each of the two types, with a total of 624 plants, after which the grafted seedlings were healed and domesticated. After 14 days, the survival rates of the two types of grafted seedlings were recorded, as shown in Table 6.  
Figure 11: The number of grafted seedlings that can be completed by two kinds of oblique cutting structures and grafting personnel within one hour of operation.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l} \hline \hline  & **Short Knife** & **Long Knife** \\ \hline Processing time of scion and rootstock (machine) & 14 min 34 s a & 15 min 05 s a \\ Time to graft a plate of grafted seedlings (machine + human) & 38 min 19 s a & 32 min 10 s b \\ \hline Independent samples \(t\)-test on average working time. Different letters indicate significant differences between treatments by using the least-significant difference at \(p\leq 0.05\). & \\ \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 5: Average working time for processing a tray of grafted seedlings.  
The survival rate of the grafted seedlings with the short-knife oblique cutting structure is 83.33%, and that of the long-knife oblique cutting structure is 84.94%. There is no significant difference between the two based on the \(t\)-test analysis, showing that different types of oblique cut structures do not affect the survival rate of grafted seedlings. The factors affecting the survival and growth performance of grafted seedlings are discussed below:  
1. Differences in the bevel angles of the scion and stock seedlings: The seedling trait differences and sowing positions all affect the bevel angle, especially for eggplant seedlings. Slanted or knotted stems at the clamping position affect the beveling angle, resulting in poor adhesion between the scion and beveled rootstock, poor cell healing and cambium connection between the two, resulting in graft failure.
2. Grafting time and healing environment: The scion and rootstock should be joined immediately after the seedlings are cut obliquely, because when the seedlings are injured, a gangrene layer forms to help the joints bind. If the scion and rootstock are not joined immediately after beveling, the water on the beveled surface evaporates over time and the cells die, which affects the healing of the grafted seedlings [22]. Consequently, it is recommended that the grafted seedlings are sent to the healing room within half an hour of completing the grafting process. The healing room environment should be in high humidity conditions (85-95% RH), which is conducive to the formation of callus and healing.
3. Differences in oblique cutting position of the root anvil: Grafted seedlings whose oblique cutting position is above the cotyledon exhibit better growth performance than grafted seedlings whose oblique cutting position is below the cotyledon, but the difference in position has no effect on their survival [23]. However, grafted seedlings whose root anvil is obliquely cut above the cotyledon will produce new branches on the root anvil, which need to be removed from time to time, increasing labor costs. Consequently, it is recommended that the oblique cut position of the root anvil be below the cotyledon to avoid unnecessary branch growth [24].