Effect of grafting on growth and yield of two tomato cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultured in a polyethylene house.

Abstract

A study was conducted during winter season of2011-2012 in a polyethylene house under desert region at Al-Zubair-Basrah province to evaluate the effect of grafting of two indeterminate cultivars (Randy and Shannon) on two different rootstock (Spirit and Beaufort) by two method of grafting (cleft and approach) and compared them with un-grafted plants for both cultivars in growth and quantity and quality of yield. Experiment included 10 treatments implemented by randomized complete block design with three replicates and means were compared by revised least significant difference test at test 0.05 level. Results showed approach grafting method was superior in success of grafting compared to cleft grafting. Both grafting methods caused significant decrease in plant height, total number of leaves, percent of infection by diseases that transferred by soil, total acidity and total soluble solids compared to un-grafted plants.