Grafting affects yield and phenolic proifle ofSolanum melongenaL. landraces

• Published in: 农业科学学报（英文版） Vol. 15; no. 5; pp. 1017 - 1024
• Main Authors: L Sabatino, G Iapichino, A Maggio, E D Anna, M Bruno, F D Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo 90128, Italy%Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Palermo 90128, Italy；D Regional Centres for Agricultural Technologies Ce.R.T.A., University of Foggia, Foggia 71122, Italy 2016
• Subjects: polyphenols; HPLC analysis; yield; propagation technique; eggplant
• ISSN: 2095-3119
• DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61323-5

The inlfuence of grafting on agronomical and qualitative characteristics of four Sicilian eggplant landraces was investigated. Grafted and ungrafted plants were compared in the open ifeld in the northern coast of Sicily.Solanum torvum seedlings were used as rootstock. Regardless of genotypes tested, grafting signiifcantly increased total fruit production, marketable production, and number of marketable fruits, but did not affect weight of marketable fruits and waste production. Landrace 2 (Sciacca), with black epidermal tissue and pyriform fruit shape, when grafted ontoS. torvum not only gave a higher yield performance than ungrafted plants, but also showed a higher phenolic antioxidant content. Landrace 4 (Sicilia), with black epidermal tissue and smal cylindrical fruits also beneifted, when grafted ontoS. torvum, from a substantial increase in antioxidant fruit content. As consumers’ demand for fruits and vegetables rich in compounds important for human health is steadily increasing, these landrace/rootstock combinations should deserve more attention by plant nurseries involved in grafted seedling production and interested in the valorization and conservation of eggplant biodiversity.