The vegetative development and the estimation of the production cost of eleven citrus rootstocks for inarching were evaluated in different containers. 'Rangpur' lime cultivar Limeira (Citrus limonia Osbeck); 'Swingle' citrumelo (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. x Citrus paradisi Macf.); 'Cleópatra' mandarin (Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tanaka); 'Sunki' mandarin (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka); 'Volkamer' lemon cultivar Catânia 2 (Citrus volkameriana Pasquale); 'Caipira' sweet orange cultivar DAC (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck); 'Rugoso da África' rough lemon cultivar Mazoe (Citrus jambhiri Lush.); Poncirus trifoliata cultivar Davis A; 'Sun Shu Sha Kat' mandarin (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka); 'Sunki' mandarin cultivar 2506 or Fruto Grande (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka) and Poncirus trifoliata cultivar Barnes were studied. Containers used were: 290 mL leaching tubes, 1.7 L polyethylene bags, and rootstocks transplanted from 75 mL leaching tubes to 1.7 and 4.5 L polyethylene bags. Rootstocks directly sowed in 1.7 L polyethylene bags reach optimal size for inarching in the shortest period, 100 to 150 days after sowing. They also lead to larger plants with satisfactory root system, however with a higher cost of production when compared to production system in 290 mL leaching tubes.
Citrus spp.; fruit crops; citrus sudden death disease; propagation; grafting
