Yield, Nutrients, and Antioxidants of Tomato in Response to Grafting and Substrate

Abstract

Grafting is becoming popular for expanding soilless cultivation of tomato in substrates and one of the main interests for growing grafted tomatoes is to improve fruit quality. The objective of our research was to examine the effect of grafting and substrate on yield and fruit quality. Seedlings of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), cv. FA 179 Brillante, were used as scion and nongrafted control, and tomato (L. lycopersicon L. Kirsten ex Farwell), cv. Resistar, was used as rootstock. The effect of grafting on tomato yield, leaf nutrient status, and fruit quality (some quality attributes and antioxidant compounds) was assessed by growing plants under greenhouse conditions in a soilless system using two different substrates (local gravel and perlite). No changes in yield, leaf nutrient status, or fruit quality were observed in response to grafting and substrate and the interaction was not significant. The lack of any differences in the measured parameters may be attributed to no limitations in plant development due to the growing system.