Response of different rootstocks on vegetative growth, fruit and seed yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

In this study, different eggplant scion genotypes were grafted onto different eggplant rootstock genotypes in order to assess the plant growth, development, and fruit yield of eggplant plants based on the physiological and morphological response mechanisms. The experiment was conducted at the vegetable research field plot on the campus at Faculty of Agriculture, University of Erciyes, Kayseri-Turkey. The field experiment was carried out to determine plant growth, shoot and root fresh and dry biomasses, plant height, total leaf area, leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD), rootstock and scion stem diameter, number of fruits per plant, total fruit yield, fruit dry matter, fruit diameter and length, total seed yield, and thousand seed weight. Two eggplant cultivars (Topan and Pala) were grafted onto two different eggplant rootstock genotypes (Hawk and K?ksal F1), while non-grafted scion genotypes were used as control plants. The experiment was laid in a randomized completely block design (RCBD) containing three replications. The results indicated that between grafted and non-grafted plants significant (P<0.001) differences were observed in shoot and root fresh and dry biomasses, plant height, total leaf area, leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD), rootstock and scion stem diameter, number of fruits per plant, total fruit yield, fruit dry matter, fruit diameter and length, total seed yield, and thousand seed weight. The rootstocks utilized have influenced the vigour of the grafted plants. The ?Pala? grafted on the rootstock ?K?ksal F1? registered 61.91% increment in shoot fresh biomass and 49.04% increment in root fresh biomass in comparison to the non-grafted plants. Grafting influenced plant height which reached values of roughly 1.0 m, leaf are resulting in values of 5645.04 cm2 plant-1, and SPAD resulting in values of 47.48 at ?Pala/K?ksal F1? graft combination in comparison to the non-grafted plants. The grafting combinations also influenced the productivity of plants as compare to non-grafted plants. The significantly highest fruit yield obtained from ?Pala/K?ksal F1? graft combination was of 4711.89 g plant-1, followed by ?Topan/K?ksal F1? graft combination with 3834.54 g plant-1. ?Pala? was produced 11.49 number of fruits per plant when grafted on the ?K?ksal F1? rootstock and 8.46 number of fruits per plant when grafted on the ?Hawk? rootstock. Regarding seed yield, ?Pala? grafted on the rootstock ?K?ksal F1? registered 72.03% increment in total seed yield in comparison to the non-grafted plants. Overall, the eggplant rootstock genotypes ?K?ksal F1? showed a better performance shoot and root fresh and dry biomasses, plant height, total leaf area, leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD), rootstock and scion stem diameter, number of fruits per plant, total fruit yield, fruit dry matter, fruit diameter and length, total seed yield, and thousand seed weight as compared to non-grafted plants.