What is grafting?
Grafting is a method of plant propagation. Technically a grafted plant is a hybrid. In grafting we take a stronger plant as rootstock (stem part of the grafted plant) and a commercial plant’s part as growing portion.
Also read: How to Make a Healing Chamber For Vegetable Grafting
Examples of crops:
Vegetable crops
- Tomato
- Brinjal
- Chilli
- Pumpkin
- Cucumber
- Other gourd crops
Fruit crops
- Mango
- Jackfruit
- Cashew nut
- Sapota
- Ber
In this post we will know about the different rootstocks of vegetable grafting.
Also read: Common Problems in Vegetable Grafting
Best Rootstock For
Tomato Brinjal Chilli
Root stock for tomato
Tomato is a seasonal vegetable crop. It is one of the major vegetable crop in India and also in the world. India is the second biggest country in the world after China in terms of area an production.
This production is greatly affected and yield is reduced by the wilt which is one of the major disease of brinjal. Yield loss due to wilt may range from 11.67 to 96.67% (Ref01).
Vegetable grafting is a method to reduce the incidence of different species of wilt in tomato. For this we need a resistant rootstock for tomato grafting.
What are the different rootstock for tomato grafting?
The different rootstock for tomato grafting are as follows:
- Cherry tomato
- Cultivated brinjal
- Wild brinjal (Solanum torvum)
- Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
Cherry tomato
Cherry tomato is a wild species of tomato. It is a seasonal climber. Being wild in nature this species of tomato is more vigorous and resistant against many biotic and abiotic stresses.
Compatibility
- Very compatible with any variety of tomato.
- There is no compatibility issue.
Cultivated brinjal
- Cultivated brinjal is Solanum melongena.
- It is an indigenous varitey of F1 hybrid.
- Local varieties are perennial while F1 are generally seasonal or annual.
- It is compatible with tomato.
Wild brinjal (Solanum torvum)
Also read: Using Solanum torvum in Tomato Grafting
- It is known as turkey berry.
- Plant of S. torvum is perennial.
- It is very vigorous.
- Turkey berry is not very much compatible for tomato grafting.
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
This is an annual shrub.
Black nightshade is compatible with tomato for grafting.
Which is the best rootstock for tomato grafting?
- Considering vegetative growth the best rootstock for tomato is cultivated brinjal or Solanum melongena.
- Considering flowering, fruiting and overall yield the best rootstock for tomato is cultivated brinjal or Solanum melongena.
- Considering soil-borne diseases the best rootstock for tomato is wild brinjal.
- Considering biotic and abiotic stresses the best rootstock for tomato is wild brinjal.
Rootstock for brinjal or eggplant
Eggplant is a seasonal or annual plant. Some variants of local variety are biennial. Wilt is a major problem in eggplant.
Objective
- To make stronger plant
- To get high yield
- To acquire resistance against the soil borne disease.
Rootstock for eggplant
Wild brinjal: S. torvum, S. viarum, S. microcarpon etc.
Cultivated brinjal
- S. torvum: It is very vigorous.
- S. viarum: It is strong, vigorous and annual to perennial.
- S. microcarpon: It is perennial
Which is best rootstock of brinjal grafting?
- Considering vegetative growth the best rootstock for eggplant is S. torvum
- Considering flowering, fruiting and overall yield the best rootstock for eggplant is Solanum torvum.
- Considering soil-borne diseases the best rootstock for eggplant is wild brinjal.
- Considering biotic and abiotic stresses the best rootstock for eggplant is wild brinjal.
Rootstock for chilli
Chilli is an annual spice crop. It runs longer after grafting. Overall yield is increased after grafting.
List of rootstock for chilli grafting
- Wild chilli
- Local variant
Which is the best rootstock for chilli grafting?
The best rootstock for chilli grafting is wild chilli.
Ref01: Pandiyaraj et al (2019). Evaluation of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) germplasm for yield and bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) disease resistance. January 2019.
Also read: