The objetive of this research was to evaluate the feasibility to produce nursery plants of 'Italia' grapevine through green grafting on herbaceous cutting of two rootstocks (IAC 766 'Campinas' and IAC 572 'Jales'). Rootstocks cuttings were taken from a virus-free stock plant, and consisted of the leaves elimination of the basal portion, leaving just one leaf in the superior part of each one. Cuttings were prepared with a cut below the node in the basal portion and a cut in the internode in the superior portion, leaving each one with 20 cm of length and 0.5 cm of diameter. Cuttings were then placed in plastic boxes containing coaled hull rice medium on mist chamber. Once the properly rooting was observed, the rootstocks were transferred into plastic bags containing soil mix. The 'Italia' green grafting was evaluated in three different periods after the rootstocks transplantation (30, 60 and 90 days). A randomized design was used as statistical model with 6 treatments and 5 replications in a 2-factor arrangement (2 rootstocks and 3 periods of grafting). Each plot was composed by 10 plants. The treatments were compared 80 days after each grafting period through the following parameters: porcentage of shooting grafts, length and diameter of shooting grafts, fresh and dry weigth of roots, and root quantification (root area and total root length) through image analysis using SIARCS® software. It was possible to conclude that the production of nursery plants of 'Italia' grapevine can be reached, performing the green grafting, 90 days after the transplantation of rooted herbaceous cuttings into plastic bags, with 77.50% of well-succesfull grafting.
Vitis spp.; propagation; rooting
