Excluding disjoint Kuratowski graphs

Abstract

A graph is a ``$k$-Kuratowski graph'' if it has exactly $k$ components, each isomorphic to $K_5$ or to $K_{3,3}$. We prove that if a graph $G$ contains no $k$-Kuratowski graph as a minor,then there is a set $X$ of boundedly many vertices such that $G\setminus X$ can be drawn in a (possibly disconnected) surface in which no $k$-Kuratowski graph can be drawn.