Grafted vegetables – the influence of rootstock and scion on postharvest quality

Abstract

Grafting of vegetable seedlings is a unique horticultural technology, practised for more than 50 years, to overcome problems associated with intensive cultivation on limited arable land. Grafting vegetables can protect against soil-borne diseases and nematodes, against abiotic stresses such as high/low temperatures, salinity, drought or excessive soil-water content, and against elevated soil concentrations of heavy metals and organic pollutants. In addition, the grafted plant takes up water and nutrients from the soil more efficiently and retains its vitality for longer periods during the growing season. However, rootstock/scion combinations may affect and alter the final size, yield, and quality of fruits from grafted plants, both immediately postharvest and during prolonged storage. These alterations may be attributed in part to differing production environments and methods, the type of rootstock/scion combinations used, and harvest date.The aim of this paper is to review the most recent literature on the effects of grafting on postharvest quality of fruits/vegetables: tomato, watermelon, melon, eggplant, cucumber and pepper. The review will conclude by identifying several prospects for future research aimed at improving the quality of grafted fruit/vegetable products.

Selection of resistant rootstocks to Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. incognita for okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

“…Grafting has proven effective at controlling diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens, and for providing t o l e r a n c e t o a b i o t i c s t r e s s e s , s u c h a s h i g h / l o w temperatures, salinity, drought or flooding, and toxicity from heavy metals Fallik and Ilic, 2015). However, this technique requires specialized procedures, a high initial cost, and a longer time for the treated seedlings to reach the stage of transplanting.…”

The effectiveness of growth cycles on improving fruit quality for grafted watermelon combinations

“…Besides disease resistance and tolerance to low/high soil temperatures, watermelon rootstocks, especially those of C. maxima × C. moschata hybrids can enhance plant vigor, growth, and yield since they are much more vigorous than the bottle gourd rootstock (Alan et al, 2007;King et al, 2010); however, reports on fruit quality such as rind thickness, color, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, and sugar are rather conflicting being increasing, decreasing or remaining unaffected (Miguel et al, 2004;Davis et al, 2008a;Rouphael et al, 2010;Fallik & Ilic, 2014;Kyriacou et al, 2017).…”

Agricultural practices, biology and quality of eggplant cultivated in Central Europe. A review

“…There are conflicting reports concerning the effect of grafting on different parameters associated with plant stress susceptibility, growth and yield. According to Fallik and Ilic (2014), rootstock/scion combinations need to be selected carefully for specific climatic and geographic conditions. Commercially available rootstocks have been selected especially for disease resistance and vigour, so breeding programmes are needed in order to identify suitable combinations that result in high fruit quality attributes under various growing conditions.…”