Effect of grafting on growth, yield, and Verticillium wilt of eggplant

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) seedlings ('Tsakoniki') were grafted by hand on the Verticillium dahliae Kleb. resistant wild species Solanum torvum Sw. (GST) and Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (GSS). Grafted and nongrafted eggplants were transplanted to a fumigated soil with methyl bromide and to infested soil with microsclerotia of V dahliae. Grafted plants were more vigorous, as measured by plant height, main stem diameter, and root system weight, than the nongrafted 'Tsakoniki'. This resulted in an increased early production (GST, 45.5%; GSS, 18.4%) and late production (GST, 69.3%; GSS, 59.2%) as compared to the noninfected controls. The mean yield reduction (over years) in early production caused by the disease, as compared to the controls grown in fumigated soil, was 29.4%, 36.6%, and 77.9% for eggplant grafted on S. torvum, S. sisymbriifolium, and nongrafted plants, respectively. This yield reduction in total production was 6.9%, 20.5%, and 56.8%, respectively. The disease incidence in ungrafted plants was 96% and 100% during early and late harvest periods. In contrast, the disease incidence in grafted plants was significantly lower, averaging 28.1% (GST) and 52.6% (GSS) in early production, and 37.6% and 79.3%, respectively, in late production. Solanum torvum was found more resistant than S. sisymbriifolium, because grafted infected plants developed mild symptoms, as indicated by significantly lower leaf symptom index (average value 1.2 and 2.22) and disease index (average value 1.55 and 3.38), respectively. In conclusion, grafting of eggplant on either wild species had positive effects on growth, production, and verticillium wilt control.