University of Thessaly, School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Agricultural Environment, Fytoko Street, 38446, N. Ionia, Magnesias, Volos, Greece;**NationalAgricultural Research Foundation (N.AG.RE.F.), PlantProtec
Key words: Lycopersicon esculentum, Lycopersicon hirsutum, grafting, rootstock, scion, tomato, yield.
Journal of Applied Horticulture, 2006, volume 8, issue 1, pages 3-7.
Abstract: Seedlings of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. 'Big Red' were used as scion and rootstock (self-grafted) and non-grafted control, while two hybrid tomatoes 'Heman' and 'Primavera' were used as rootstocks. Grafted and non-grafted plants were grown in the greenhouse and in the open-field. Grafted plants (BH and BP) were more vigorous than the non-grafted ones in the greenhouse as well as in the open-field. Plants grafted onto 'Heman' and 'Primavera' produced 32.5, 12.8% and 11.0 and 11.1% more fruit than the control (B) in the greenhouse and the open-field, respectively, whereas self-grafted plants BB had a lower yield in both cultivation conditions. However, the self-rooted plants B presented earliness in their performance, probably due to the lack of stress that followed the grafting operation. Quality and qualitative fruit characteristics were not affected by grafting.
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