Abstract
This study aims to predict the behavior of different tomato rootstocks under drought stress conditions. SCoT and CDDP analyses were employed to characterize the genetic relatedness among a commercial drought-sensitive tomato hybrid (cv. Bark) and four wild tomato accessions (LA2711, LA1995, LA3845, and LA4285) known for their tolerance to adverse conditions. The Bark plants were grafted onto the aforementioned wild accessions and self-grafted as control, and then the behavior of all graft unions was followed under normal and drought stress conditions. Our results showed a general genotype-dependent better growth and yield of heterografts than autografts under all growth conditions. Furthermore, clustering analysis based on growth, yield quantity and quality traits, and the leaf content of minerals, ABA, GA3, and proline, in addition to the activity of APX, POD, and DHAR reflected the same grouping pattern of the studied rootstocks exhibited by SCoT and CDDP. The identical grouping pattern supports the utilization of SCoT and CDDP as a robust screening tool helpful to predict the physiological and agronomical behavior of grafting on different tomato rootstocks. Furthermore, grafting could be a cost-efficient alternative method to improve drought tolerance in sensitive tomato genotypes.
Highlights
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a major vegetable crop grown worldwide due to its commercial and health relevance
To 7, with percentages of polymorphism ranging from 19.0%
The higher polymorphism recorded upon utilizing Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism (SCoT) may be attributed to the abundance of binding sites targeted by its primers, compared with Conserved DNA-Derived Polymorphism (CDDP) which was restricted to conserved regions within certain gene families
Summary
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a major vegetable crop grown worldwide due to its commercial and health relevance. Based on a statement by the FAO in 2020 Faostat.fao.org/, accessed on 20 December 2021), the world production of tomato was about. Tomato fruit contains an appreciable amount of essential minerals and antioxidants including lycopene pigment and vitamin C which can reduce the progression of various types of cancer [1]. Drought occurs when the plant water requirement cannot be fully fulfilled [2]. Global climate change consistently results in prevailing drought conditions over vast global areas [5]. It is estimated that about two-thirds of the global population will reside in areas suffering from water deficiencies by the end of the first quarter of this century [6]
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