Effect of grafting on growth, performance and yield of aubergine (Solanum melongena L.)in greenhouse and open-field Abstract

Seedlings of aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) cv. ‘Rima’ were used as scion (R) and control (non-grafted) and rootstock (self-grafted) (RR), while two hybrid tomatoes ‘Heman’ (Lycopersicon hirsutm) and ‘Primavera’ (Lycopersicon esculentum) were used as rootstocks. Grafted and nongrafted plants were grown in the greenhouse and in the open-field. Grafted plants Rima and Heman (RH) were more vigorous than the non-grafted ones in the greenhouse as well as in the open-field and produced 34.1 and 43.3% more fruits than the control whereas, plants which grafted onto Primavera (RP) produced 21.2% more fruits in greenhouse and 5.18% less fruit compare to the control in open field cultivation. The self-grafted plants RR had no significant yield differences with control in both cultivation conditions. Moreover, in greenhouse condition, the grafted plants RH and RP presented earliness in their productivity and produced less seeds number per fruit than control. Finally, quality and qualitative fruit characteristics were not affected by grafting.