Effects of different Solanum rootstocks on photosynthetic pigment contents and antioxidant enzyme activities of eggplant seedlings under cadmium stress

Abstract

In the experiment, Solanum diphyllum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum nigrum humile and Solanum alatum as the rootstocks and eggplant seedlings as the scions, and the effects of different Solanum rootstocks on photosynthetic pigment contents and antioxidant enzyme activities of eggplant seedlings were studied. The results showed that S. nigrum as the rootstock increased the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll of eggplant seedlings, and other treatments decreased the value of the above indicators or had no effects on them. All the Solanum rootstocks increased the content of carotenoid. Compared to ungrafted, the content of total chlorophyll and carotenoid of eggplant seedlings with S. nigrum as rootstock were the highest, which increased by 7.91% and 45.71%. Different Solanum rootstocks had different effects on the antioxidant enzyme activities of eggplant seedlings, but in general, Solanum rootstocks increased the antioxidant enzyme activities of eggplant seedlings. In conclusion, S. nigrum as the rootstock increased the antioxidant enzyme activities of eggplant seedlings while increasing its chlorophyll content, which was conducive to the growth of eggplant seedlings.