OBTAINING A VIRUS-FREE SELETA FOLHA MURCH A THOUGH MICROGRAFTING IN-VITRO

In this paper, the 'Seleta Folha Murcha', a probable variation of the citrus sinensis (L.) cv. Seleta do Rio, of great productivity and of l ate maturity is described. The results of in vitro micrografting utili zation for a virus-free variety obtention are also reported. This tech nique is also utilized do get plants wihout the majority of virus-like diseases, and to maintain, at the same time, characteristics of the d esired cultivar. The rootstock utilized was a 'Rangpur Lime' (citrus l imonia Osbeck), obtained from seeds that where germinated in mineral s alt culture medium with Bacto-agar, under constant darkness. The micro grafted citrus obtained have already been immunized and are kept in th e acclimatization phase in a greenhouse, where they will be indexed as for the main citrus virus, using test plants.