The changes of fruit quality parameters at using of different eggplant rootstock/scion combinations which growing under salt and drought stress

Abstract

Effects of drought and salt stress on fruit quality in grafted plants, which salt and drought tolerance Mardin Kızıltepe (MK), Burdur Merkez (BM) and sensitive Kemer (K), Artvin Hopa (AH) as scion genotypes were grafted on the salt tolerance commercial eggplant as rootstocks (Köksal and Vista). This study was carried out in glasshouse where controlled temperature and humidity. For drought stress, plant-available water, 50% was consumed for irrigation. The salinity level determinated as 6 dS m-1 (EC) with NaCl. The end of the experiment, fruit dry weight (DW), fruit juice EC level, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solid content (SSC), vitamin C (Vit C) contents were investigated. These parameters values were increased with drought and salinity; however fruit pH level was decreased. In the grafted plants on Köksal and Vista rootstock, fruit juice EC level, soluble solid content and Vit C content increased under drought conditions compared to control plants. As a result, using of tolerance rootstock in grafting was found effectively improving of fruit quality under drought condition in eggplant.

Keywords

• Drought
• Grafting
• Fruit quality
• Solanum melongena
• Salinity