Morphological and anatomical aspects of a cleft micrografting of grape explants in vitro

Abstract

In vitro adaptation of the traditional field cleft grafting of grape plants was studied.

Apexes (measuring 0.3 mm) of the 110 Richter, 161-49 Couderc and 41B Millardet rootstocks and of the Palomino fino, Pedro Ximénéz and Zalema cultivars were cultured in vitro. The rootstock plants obtained in vitro were divided into 3–4 explants without buds, and their tops were cut with a scalpel, producing a small cleft where an explant with buds from the cultivars was inserted. The set (graft) was again cultured in vitro.

Evolution of the graft-junction was followed by observation of correlative samples in optical and electron microscopes, finding that healing of the callus occurred during the first six days and the vascular junction between the 8th and 12th after grafting.

Most of grafted plants (60%) survived and a good multiplication factor was produced by the possibility of obtaining 3–4 explants per plant.