Effect of grafting techniques on horticultural and quality traits in tomato scions grafted on potato rootstocks

A study was conducted in a naturally ventilated quonset polyhouse to study the effects of grafting techniques on different horticultural and quality characteristics of tomatoes and potatoes produced on a single plant after grafting them together. Tomato hybrids Avtar-7711 and GS-600 were used as scions and potato cultivars Kufri Himsona, Kufri Himalini and Kufri Giriraj were used as rootstocks. Tomato scions were grafted on potato rootstocks using two grafting techniques, tongue grafting (G₁) and cleft grafting (G₂). Cleft grafting is reported as best grafting method exhibiting maximum survival of grafted pomato plants (84.13%) and a high degree of grafting success rate (72.95%). However, tongue grafting resulted in better performance for yield and quality traits in either of the crop species. There was no significant effect of grafting methods on days to harvest in potato and number of marketable fruits per plant, marketable fruit yield per plant (kg), average fruit weight (g) and marketable fruit yield per square meter (kg) in tomato.