(442) Catechins and Compatibility in Calocarpum sapota (Jacq.) Merr. Homografts and Calocarpum sapota on Achras sapota (L.) Heterografts during Two Phenological Stages

The responsible substances involved in the phenomenon of compability/incompatibility in Sapotaceae species during two phenological stages were elucidated. An experiment was carried out to determine the compatibility/incompatibility relationship between homografts and heterografts of Sapotaceae species during two phenological stages, and to identify the responsible substances involved in the phenomenon. In order to determine the compatibility/incompatibility between Sapotaceae species, heterograftings were made using the mamey [ Calocarpumsapota (Jacq.) Merr.] as scion, and chicozapote [( Achrassapota (L.)] was used as rootstock. Grafting was conducted during the phenological stage of defoliation of the scion donor plant, as well as during budding. Homografts were also made using C. sapota on C. sapota in both phenological stages. Plant tissue samples were obtained from scions and rootstocks in both phenological stages, and they were used for HPLC analysis. Heterografts ( C. sapota on A. sapota ) showed 100% incompatibility in both stages, and lack of success during grafting was obtained; similar results were registered with the homografts ( C. sapota on C. sapota ) during the budding stage; however, during the defoliation stage, 80% successful grafting was obtained. The responsible substances involved in the phenomenon of compatibility/incompatibility using samples taken during the grafting day and 60 days after ( C. sapota grafted on A. sapota during defoliation stage), were identified as catechin and epicatechin. Catechins are the responsible substances of incompatibility in the heterografts of C. sapota / A. sapota in both phenological stages, as well as during the budding stage in the homografts on C. sapota .