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In tomatoes, grafting onto resistant rootstocks represents an effective strategy to control several soil-borne diseases that reduce crop profitability, especially for landraces with little or no resistance to multiple pathogens/pests. In this study, the high-value 'Corbarino' tomato landrace was grafted onto seven commercial Solanum interspecific rootstocks to evaluate graft compatibility, yield performance, and qualitative characteristics under greenhouse healthy conditions. Three rootstocks were the most effective in improving fruit yield without negatively affecting the carpometric, technological, and health-related traits of the traditional tomato. 'Dinafort' rootstock increased fresh and dry yield, harvest index, and fruit/clusters, while mean fruit weight, shape index, total and soluble solid content, simple sugars, organic acids, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and trans -lycopene content did not differ with respect to the ungrafted 'Corbarino'. 'Interpro' rootstock also showed promising results for the overall yield and quality traits, although it reduced the trans -lycopene content in the fruit. 'Silex' rootstock showed the highest harvest index as result of decreased vigour. The fruit quality induced by 'Silex' was satisfactory and high levels of simple sugars, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and trans -lycopene were also observed. However, graft success, especially for 'Dinafort' and 'Silex', needs to be improved by investigating more suitable methods for seedling production, grafting, acclimatization, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting is generally considered effective in ameliorating vegetable crop tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The use of interspecific hybrid as rootstock for eggplant may represent a valid alternative approach to enhance eggplant performance. However, studies on the effects of different rootstocks on eggplant plant vigor, yield, and fruit quality traits often show conflicting results. Thus, an experiment was performed in two spring–summer growing seasons (2014 and 2015) by grafting eggplant ′Scarlatti′ F1 hybrid on two accessions of S. aethiopicum gr. gilo and on the interspecific hybrid S. melongena × S. aehtiopicum gr. gilo in comparison to the most common eggplant rootstock S. torvum. Results indicate that S. melongena × S. aethiopicum gr. gilo interspecific hybrid and S. torvum improved grafting success, plant vigor, early flowering and yield in ′Scarlatti′ F1 scion. All rootstocks tested did not negatively influence fruit apparent quality traits and fruit quality composition. Moreover, fruit glycoalkaloids content remained below the recommended threshold value. These findings suggest that the use of S. melongena × S. aethiopicum gr. gilo interspecific hybrid as rootstock may be a good alternative to the most commonly used S. torvum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting of fruiting vegetables is an effective technique to overcome pests and diseases in modern cropping systems and it is often used to improve yield and fruit quality. Eggplant is an important vegetable crop that benefits significantly from grafting. In this regards, the exploitation, valorization and breeding of new rootstock genotypes as possible substitute to those commonly used ( Solanum torvum and tomato hybrids) would permit an intensive eggplant crop system in those situations where a rootstock rotation is required. In the present article, we study the effects of several potential rootstocks including both wild/allied species of eggplant [ S. torvum (STO), S. macrocarpon (SMA), S. aethiopicum (accession SASI), S. aethiopicum (accession SASa2), S. paniculatum (jurubeba) (SPA) and S. indicum (SIN)] and Msa 2/2 E7 and 460 CAL. eggplant hybrids on plant vigor, yield and fruit characteristics of eggplant F 1 hybrid (‘Birgah’), in two spring-summer growing seasons (2014 and 2015). SPA and the hybrids Msa 2/2 E7 and 460 CAL. displayed a high percentage of grafting success. ‘Birgah’ scion grafted onto the two above-mentioned rootstocks showed a notable vigour and yield. Both rootstocks did not promote any unfavorable effects on apparent fruit quality traits and overall fruit composition. Furthermore, the concentration of glycoalkaloids in the fruit remained below the recommended safety value (200 mg/100 g of dw). These results suggest that SPA and Msa 2/2 E7 and 460 CAL. eggplant hybrids might represent a potential rootstock alternative to S. torvum . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]