Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Genetika-Belgrade, cilt.53, sa.2, ss.593-608, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
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 Köksal 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 ‘Köksal 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 area resulting in values of 5645.04 cm2 plant-1
, and SPAD resulting in values of 47.48 at
‘Pala/Köksal 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/Köksal F1’ graft combination
was of 4711.89 g plant-1
, followed by ‘Topan/Köksal F1’ graft combination with 3834.54
g plant-1
. ‘Pala’ was produced 11.49 number of fruits per plant when grafted on the
‘Köksal F1’ rootstock and 8.46 number of fruits per plant when grafted on the ‘Hawk’
rootstock. Regarding seed yield, ‘Pala’ grafted on the rootstock ‘Köksal F1’ registered
72.03% increment in total seed yield in comparison to the non-grafted plants. Overall, the
eggplant rootstock genotypes ‘Köksal 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.