Resumen en inglés

Citrus (Citrus L.) are permanent crops with high adaptability to various climatic conditions, facilitating their cultivation in a large number of countries. Among the species with the highest commercial demand in Colombia are sweet oranges (Citrus x sinensis (L.) Osbeck (pro. sp.)) and Tahiti limes (Citrus x latifolia Tanaka). The national citrus market in recent years has shown a shortage in production; generated by the increase in pests and diseases, which has led to a reduction in plant material for new crops of citrus species, especially in the department of Córdoba, because of limitations to comply with regulations established by ICA through Resolution 12816 of August 21, 2019. To propose technical alternatives, IBAC (Instituto de Biotecnología Aplicada del Caribe) has evaluated the use of alternative methods of grafting through micro and mini grafts and evaluation of growth and development of propagated plants in the nursery stage, in order to accumulate information that allows delivering the appropriate recommendations. The present research (investigation) was carried out in the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory of the University of Córdoba and its main objective was to evaluate the growth and development in the nursery stage of citrus plants of sweet orange and Tahiti Lime produced through two methods of mini grafting, and transplanted in two types of container. The plant material consisted of plants produced from mini grafting of sweet orange and Tahiti lime. Bud donor plants were purchased from nurseries registered by the ICA. Two techniques were used for grafting: cleft and inverted Ton rootstocks of approximately 5-month age, grafted plants were kept tube and plastic bags, treatments were distributed with a CRD. The ANOVA allowed to detect the presence statistical differences in Tahiti lime plants in the variable increase in the number of leaves due to the interaction between type of grafting x container. In sweet orange plants increase in leaf number was affected by the type of grafting and container. Increase in stem umber of stems and increase in height were not affected for both species. The DMS test showed that Lima plants propagated by inverted-T 14 grafting and kept in bags developed a significantly higher number of leaves compared to those propagated by cleft grafting grown in bags. Sweet orange plants propagated by Inverted T grafting and transplanted in bags developed a significantly higher number of leaves compared to other treatments. Plastic bag and tube could be considered as container alternatives for transplanting depending on the characteristics of the nursery.