PRODUCTION AND MOVEMENT OF BRANCHING AGENT IN POINSETTIA LEAF AND STEM

Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex. Klotzsch 'Eckespoint C-1 Red' (C-1) a restricted-branching cultivar and 'CB' a free-branching vegetative or graft-hybrid, were homo and heterografted. Length and number of axill ary shoot nodes of C-1 receiver plants (plants which may receive the b ranching agent from the donor plants) were partially increased by CB d onors with leaves removed and with apical and basal parts removed. Sha ding of CB donors partially increased the length of axillary shoots an d the number of axillary shoot nodes of C-1 receivers above node 4. Pr oduction and movement of the branching agent may occur in and go from both stems and leaves of CB poinsettia donors to C-1 poinsettia receiv ers. Shading CB donor leaves and stems did not prevent the production and movement of the branching agent to C-1 receivers.