Influence of waterlogging stress and benzyladenine application on tomato grafted to eggplant

Abstract

Under waterlogged conditions, the non-grafted tomato plants had significantly lower survival rate (53%), compared to the 100% survival rating of grafted plants. Both grafted and non-grafted plants while under waterlogged conditions had high leaf stomatal resistance, low transpiration rate and high stress rating, compared to the non-waterlogged plants. However, one week after resumption of aerobic soil conditions, both stomatal resistance and transpiration as well as stress rating returned to normal in grafted plants unlike in the non-grafted plants which continued to show high stomatal resistance, low transpiration rates and high stress rating. The morphological changes associated with stress in the plant regardless of treatments were cupping, drooping and eventual wilting of leaves. Due to severe stress under waterlogged conditions, the non-grafted plants had significantly lower yield which was just about 41% that in grafted plants. The grafted, non-waterlogged plants had comparable yield with the non-grafted, non-waterlogged plants. Application of benzyladenine was not effective in alleviating waterlogging stress effects on both grafted and non-grafted tomato.