The initial vegetative growth of citrus seedling rootstocks was evaluated by means of sowing and transplantation of bare-root seedling. The experiment was conduced in September 2003 in greenhouse conditions in the Estação Experimental Agronômica/UFRGS in Eldorado do Sul, Brazil. The objective of this study was to test the viability of use of seedlings deriving from thinning. The experiment was in randomized blocks with four replications in a split plot design and each sub-plot consisted of 22 tubs. In the main plot were tested two propagation systems: sowing and transplantation at the thinning moment. In sub-plots were tested three citrus rootstocks: Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata [ L. ] Raf.); 'C37' citrange (P. trifoliata x Citrus sinensis [ L. ] Osbeck.), and 'Rangpur' lime (C. limonia Osbeck.). The sowing was carried in conical tubs of black polyethylene (capacity of 120cm³) with two to three seeds in each tub. Transplantation was made at the thinning moment, when the seedlings had, in average, two to four leaves. The results demonstrate that it is possible to use seedlings resulting from thinning, without differences in the vegetative development comparatively to sowing. The 'C37' citrus rootstock presents a larger initial vigor when compared to the other citrus rootstocks tested.
propagation; greenhouse; Poncirus trifoliata; Citrus limonia
