GRAFT TECHNIQUES BETWEEN GENOTYPES OF Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch

Abstract

In poinsettia flower (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch), there is constant offer and demand for new varieties and presentations. The draft technique can support its genetic improvement, compacting, and archetype formation, as a source of tolerance or resistance to biotic or abiotic stress. The techniques of attached draft, approximation, wedge and splice, using seedlings of the poinsettia genotype 40 (pattern) and ‘Prestige’ variety radiated with gamma rays (spike), under a completely random design, with 10 repetitions, were evaluated. The following were reported: survival of drafts [SDI (%)]; beginning, 50% and complete pigmentation of bract (IPB, PB5, PBC); base diameter of the pattern [DBP (mm)] and draft [DBI (cm)]; height of transition bract [ABT (cm)], spike [ADP (cm)] and plant [ATP (cm)]; number of knots (NDN); diameter of bract [DMB (cm)] and cyathium [DMC (cm)]; length and width of the bract [LDB and ANB (cm)] and luminosity (LUM), chromaticity (CRO) and hue (HDB) of the bract sheaf. ANOVA and Tukey test (P?0.05) were performed with SAS (2000). There were highly significant differences for ADP, LUM, CRO and HDB and significant differences in IPB, PB5, PBC, and ABT and ATP. The application of the draft in poinsettia seedlings is feasible. The best results in height were obtained with wedge