This research was carried out with the purpose to produce mangoes trees free of fungus Fusarium subglutinans, causal agent of mango malformation by using the apex meristem to substitute it for the meristem of the commercial cultivar Tommy Atkins. This micrografting methodology was denominated "meristem substitution" through which the cultivars Coquinho, Espada, Ouro and Ubá were used as rootstocks. The micrografts were collected from 'Tommy Atkins' mother plant without malformation symptoms. Firstly, branch apexes were cut off having length of 3 cm. Each apex meristem was placed in an antioxidant solution composed of ascorbic acid, citric acid and cistein, to avoid the oxidation of the fenolic compounds. The apex meristem was cut with 2 mm length. The apex meristem and leaves of the rootstock were also cut off then the apex meristem of Tommy Atkins was placed on the extremity of the rootstock, being covered with ParafilmR. It was demonstrated that micrografting technique may develop matrix plants to implant a cloned garden in the protected greenhouse conditions.
Fusarium subglutinans; Mangifera indica L.; mango malformation; mango propagation
