Analysis of Plant Growth and Yield in Varieties of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Grafted onto Different Eggplant Rootstocks

Evy Latifah,Herman Subagio,Mohammad Saeri,Bas Warsiati,Zainal Arifin,Ariffin Ariffin,Dwi Setyorini,Donald Sihombing,Moch Dawam Maghfoer,Paulina Evy Retnaning Prahardini,Amik Krismawati,Eko Widaryanto,Sri Satya Antarlina,Cristina Patan

doi:10.1155/2021/6630382

Abstract

This study aimed to examine plant growth of tomato grafted onto different eggplant rootstocks. We applied a randomized block design comprising twelve treatments with three replicates. Three varieties of tomato—Cervo, Karina, and Timoty—and three rootstocks—Gelatik, EG203 line, and Solanum torvum—were selected for this study. Nongrafted tomato plants of the same varieties were used as controls. The variables recorded were the number of branches, the diameter of scions and rootstocks, root length, and root dry weight at 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks after planting (WAT) and relative growth rate, specific leaf area, and net assimilation rate at 4, 8, and 12 WAT. Grafted tomato plants demonstrated better growth than controls. There was a significant relationship between yield, plant growth parameters, and photosynthetic organs, expressed by higher production, greater scion diameter, longer roots, and increased relative growth rate, leaf area ratio, and net assimilation rate of grafted plants, compared to the controls.

Highlights

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a vegetable with great potential for development in East Java because of its high economic value [1, 2] and can contribute to the household economy when it is intensively cultivated using appropriate technology [3, 4]
Cervo, Karina, and Timoty tomato seeds were planted in small pots. e rootstocks and scions were irrigated daily for 21 days. ree-week-old eggplant seedlings were used as rootstocks, while two-week-old tomato seedlings were the scions. e cutting on the sides of both the scions and rootstocks followed a 45° slope in suitable transplants to ensure cambium alignment. e grafted plants were inserted into plastic pockets
Initial plant growth was measured at 4 weeks after planting (WAT)

Summary

Introduction

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a vegetable with great potential for development in East Java because of its high economic value [1, 2] and can contribute to the household economy when it is intensively cultivated using appropriate technology [3, 4]. Karina grafted onto “Gelatik” and S. torvum rootstocks, as well as the nongrafted control, produced more branches at 6 WAT than other scion varieties in any grafting treatment. At 4 WAT and 6 WAT, there was no significant difference in the number of branches produced by Cervo and Timoty varieties grafted onto “Gelatik,” EG203 line, and S. torvum rootstocks.

Results

Conclusion