Among the grafting aims are (1) to enhance plant growth, fruit yield and quality; (2) to control wilt caused by pathogens; (3) to reduce viral, fungal and bacterial infection; (4) to strengthen tolerance to thermal or saline stress; (5) to increase nutrient and mineral uptake to the shoot. The cultivars used to obtain of grafted seedlings were from the Baronesa F1 (Citrullus lanatus) hybrid scion and the Pelops F1 (Lagenaria siceraria), Kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus) and Zefir (Benicasa hispida) rootstocks. The rootstock has influenced the number of fruits per plant, weight/fruit and production/plant; the Pelops rootstock has had a positive influence and the Kiwano and Zefir rootstocks have had a negative influence compared to the non-grafted variant. The Pelops rootstock (105.84 t/ha) has had a positive influence and the Kiwano rootstock (53.45 t/ha) and Zefir rootstock (51.38 t/ha) have had have a negative influence compared to the non-grafted variant (95.5 t/ha). The biometric measurements on watermelon fruit yield were made in 2020 year. The experience aimed the identification of some rootstocks for the watermelon cultures from Romania. The research shows that the rootstocks has influenced fruit yield and some grafting combinations researched may be recommended for cropping in Romania.

No abstract

Crop rotation is rarely practiced in greenhouse production, which allows soil borne pathogens and pests to accumulate, progressively reducing crop yields and fruit quality. Grafting cultivars with high quality and productivity on rootstocks that are resistant to the soil pests and diseases is a method known from years ago, which was improved and quickly spread in the last years. The aim of this research was to evaluate the performance of the grafted peppers on some rootstocks, in greenhouse conditions. Marketable yield, fruit quality and nutritional qualities (total soluble solid contents, titratable acidity, soluble carbohydrates, Vitamin C content) have been determined. The marketable yield and fruit number were positively influenced by rootstock as compared with ungrafted peppers. The obtained results showed that grafting has improved the commercial quality of pepper fruits. There were no significant differences in the nutritional qualities of pepper fruits obtained from the grafted or ungrafted plants.