Rootstock as a source of drought tolerance in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)
2002
Bhatt, R.M. | Rao, N.K.S. (Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore (India). Div. of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry) | Sadashiva, A.T. (Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore (India). Div. of Vegetable Crops))
A study was carried out to determine the response of tomato grafted on different tomato rootstocks to drought condition. Experiment was conducted in pot culture during February-May 2000 and 2001. Three wild tomato species, e.g. Lycopersicon cheesmanii, L. peruvianum andL. pimpinellifolium were used as the rootstocks and hybrid TO-5975 as scion. Observations were recorded on relative water content, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and leaf area production. Grafts with L. cheesmanii rootstock maintained higher rate of photosynthesis (2.0 to 8.2 I1mol m-2 S-I) compare& to those with L. peruvianum (0.3 to 6.211mol m-2s-l) and L. pimpinellifolium (1.8 to 6.811mol m-2s-l) during water stress. The leaf water potential of grafts was also less negative (-2.9 MP) on L. cheesmanii rootstock. Further studies in relation to different levels of water stress with L. cheesmanii rootstock showed more leaf area production and high biological yield in grafted plants. The higher photosynthetic rate was associated with high stomatal conductance in grafted plants during stress. Photosynthetic recovery was better in the grafted compared to non-grafted plants. The stndy indicates that the rootstock may be of great relevance in cultivation strategies of tomato under water stress.
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