Determination of the Effects of Promising Hybrid Eggplant Rootstocks (Solanum Melongena X Solanum Aethiopicum) on Yield and Quality in Grafted Eggplant Growing

Abstract

In this study, the effects of eggplant rootstocks (Solanum melongena x Solanum aethiopicum) developed within the scope of the eggplant rootstock breeding program on yield and quality of grafted eggplant in open field and greenhouse were examined. For this purpose, 8 hybrid promising eggplant rootstock candidates and 3 commercial F1 hybrid rootstock varieties (Hawk, Koksal, AGR-703) and a nongrafted Karabey F1 eggplant variety were used. All rootstocks grafted with Karabey F1 (K) eggplant variety. Trials were carried out in two locations: in the open field in Samsun, Turkey and in greenhouse in Antalya, Turkey. In both locations, fruit length (cm), fruit width (cm), fruit shape index, fruit color and flesh color and flesh firmness were examined. In addition, fruit number / plant, total fruit weight / plant (kg plant-1), average fruit weight (g), total yield (kg da-1) values were also determined. The highest yield values in open field cultivation in Samsun were obtained from the eggplants grafted with RS-2 (5624.0 +/- 406.8 kg da-1), RS-1 (5500.4 +/- 497.8 kg da 1), RS-6 (5403.7 +/- 203.3 kg da-1) and RS-8 (5190.3 +/- 139.8 kg da-1) rootstocks. Yield values per acre varied between 7161.6 +/- 446.4- 12956.8 +/- 592.kg in greenhouse eggplant cultivation in Antalya. The highest yield values were obtained from RS-8 / K (12956.8 +/- 592.1 kg da-1), RS-7 / K (11447.6 +/- 1174.2 kg da-1), Koksal / K (11329.7 +/- 813.6 kg da-1) and RS-2 / K (11010.2 +/- 1154.1 kg da-1) plants. As a result, four rootstocks (RS-1, RS-2, RS-6, RS-8) that show superior performance in terms of yield and quality parameters in both locations have been determined as candidate varieties. It is planned to make Standard Seed Registration (NGO) applications and seed production of selected local eggplant rootstocks.