On minimal non [h,2,1] graphs

Abstract

The class of graphs which admits a VPT representation in a host tree with maximum degree at most h is denoted by [. h, 2, 1]. The classes [. h, 2, 1] are closed by taking induced subgraphs, therefore each one can be characterized by a family of minimal forbidden induced subgraphs. In this paper we associate the minimal forbidden induced subgraphs for [. h, 2, 1] which are VPT with (color) critical graphs. We describe how to obtain minimal forbidden induced subgraphs from critical graphs, even more, we show that the family of graphs obtained using our procedure is exactly the family of minimal forbidden induced subgraphs which are VPT, split and have no dominated stable vertices. We conjecture that there are no other VPT minimal forbidden induced subgraphs. We also prove that the minimal forbidden induced subgraphs for [. h, 2, 1] that are VPT graphs belong to the class [. h+. 1, 2, 1].