Scion and Rootstock Differently Influence Growth, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Cherry Tomato
Grafting is a valuable tool for managing problems of tomato soil-borne pathogens and pests, but often generates unpredictable effects on crop yield and product quality. To observe these rootstocks-induced changes, experimental designs including many rootstock-scion combinations are required. To this...
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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author | Rosario Paolo Mauro Michele Agnello Andrea Onofri Cherubino Leonardi Francesco Giuffrida |
author_facet | Rosario Paolo Mauro Michele Agnello Andrea Onofri Cherubino Leonardi Francesco Giuffrida |
author_sort | Rosario Paolo Mauro |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Grafting is a valuable tool for managing problems of tomato soil-borne pathogens and pests, but often generates unpredictable effects on crop yield and product quality. To observe these rootstocks-induced changes, experimental designs including many rootstock-scion combinations are required. To this end, a greenhouse experiment was conducted on 63 graft combinations, involving seven cherry tomato scions grouped in large, medium and small-fruited, and eight rootstocks with different genetic backgrounds (crosses between <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> and <i>S. habrochaites</i> or <i>S. peruvianum</i> or <i>S. pimpinellifolium</i>, plus an intraspecific hybrid), using ungrafted controls. The response of the graft partners was firstly analyzed individually using the environmental variance (σ<sup>2</sup><sub>E</sub>), then by grouping them by classes. When analyzed individually, the scion genotype influenced fruit <i>L*</i>, <i>b*</i>, shape index, total soluble solids (TSS) and its ratio with tritatable acidity (TSS/TA), whereas plant growth and yield were unpredictable. After clustering the graft partners, some of these responses were attributable to the imposed classes. The <i>S. habrochaites</i>-derived hybrids maximized plant biomass, unlike the <i>S. pimpinellifolium</i> ones. Both classes reduced fruit biomass in small- and medium-fruited scions (by 11 and 14%, respectively). The <i>S. habrochaites</i> and <i>S. peruvianum</i> hybrids reduced <i>a*</i> and TSS, whereas promoted TA. L-ascorbic acid was reduced by grafting (from −23 to −45%), in the <i>S. pimpinellifolium</i> group too, indicating, even in low vigor rootstocks, a dilution effect worsening this nutraceutical trait of tomatoes. |
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spelling | doaj.art-6db387992c3a49fda1d2858191c1cad72023-11-20T23:46:00ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-12-01912172510.3390/plants9121725Scion and Rootstock Differently Influence Growth, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Cherry TomatoRosario Paolo Mauro0Michele Agnello1Andrea Onofri2Cherubino Leonardi3Francesco Giuffrida4Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia, 5-95123 Catania, ItalyDipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia, 5-95123 Catania, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74-06121 Perugia, ItalyDipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia, 5-95123 Catania, ItalyDipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia, 5-95123 Catania, ItalyGrafting is a valuable tool for managing problems of tomato soil-borne pathogens and pests, but often generates unpredictable effects on crop yield and product quality. To observe these rootstocks-induced changes, experimental designs including many rootstock-scion combinations are required. To this end, a greenhouse experiment was conducted on 63 graft combinations, involving seven cherry tomato scions grouped in large, medium and small-fruited, and eight rootstocks with different genetic backgrounds (crosses between <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> and <i>S. habrochaites</i> or <i>S. peruvianum</i> or <i>S. pimpinellifolium</i>, plus an intraspecific hybrid), using ungrafted controls. The response of the graft partners was firstly analyzed individually using the environmental variance (σ<sup>2</sup><sub>E</sub>), then by grouping them by classes. When analyzed individually, the scion genotype influenced fruit <i>L*</i>, <i>b*</i>, shape index, total soluble solids (TSS) and its ratio with tritatable acidity (TSS/TA), whereas plant growth and yield were unpredictable. After clustering the graft partners, some of these responses were attributable to the imposed classes. The <i>S. habrochaites</i>-derived hybrids maximized plant biomass, unlike the <i>S. pimpinellifolium</i> ones. Both classes reduced fruit biomass in small- and medium-fruited scions (by 11 and 14%, respectively). The <i>S. habrochaites</i> and <i>S. peruvianum</i> hybrids reduced <i>a*</i> and TSS, whereas promoted TA. L-ascorbic acid was reduced by grafting (from −23 to −45%), in the <i>S. pimpinellifolium</i> group too, indicating, even in low vigor rootstocks, a dilution effect worsening this nutraceutical trait of tomatoes.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/12/1725<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.graftingyieldfruit qualityenvironmental variancerootstock-scion combination |
spellingShingle | Rosario Paolo Mauro Michele Agnello Andrea Onofri Cherubino Leonardi Francesco Giuffrida Scion and Rootstock Differently Influence Growth, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Cherry Tomato Plants <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L. grafting yield fruit quality environmental variance rootstock-scion combination |
title | Scion and Rootstock Differently Influence Growth, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Cherry Tomato |
title_full | Scion and Rootstock Differently Influence Growth, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Cherry Tomato |
title_fullStr | Scion and Rootstock Differently Influence Growth, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Cherry Tomato |
title_full_unstemmed | Scion and Rootstock Differently Influence Growth, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Cherry Tomato |
title_short | Scion and Rootstock Differently Influence Growth, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Cherry Tomato |
title_sort | scion and rootstock differently influence growth yield and quality characteristics of cherry tomato |
topic | <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L. grafting yield fruit quality environmental variance rootstock-scion combination |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/12/1725 |
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