Adjusting the Minigrafting Technique Applied to Citrus by Using Rootstocks Grown in vitro

Techniques applied to promote citrus propagation are of extreme relevance, since they assure high yield rates, as well as high genetic and phytosanitary quality. The aim of the present research is to assess the vegetative growth and survival of citrus cultivars subjected to different rootstocks through minigrafting in order to generate identical to the parents. Minigrafting of apical segments (1 and 2 cm long) of ‘Clementine’ tangerine budded onto rootstocks of citrandarins ‘Indio’ and ‘Riverside’ and of the combination between varieties ‘Pera’ sweet orange, ‘Sunki Madarin’ tangerine and ‘Santa Cruz Rangpur’ lemon budded onto rootstocks of citrandarins ‘Indio’, HTR-069 and LRF × (LCR × TR)-005 were evaluated. Assessments were conducted in greenhouse 120 days after the experiment were installed. The use of 2cm long segments facilitates minigrafting adherence to smaller caudal apices. The rootstock of HTR-069 presented the best survival responses among the assessed crowns. Rootstock of citrandarin ‘Indio’ enabled the best crown length development and graft diameter. Based on the results, minigrafting can be a new option for citrus propagation.