Effect of different rootstock type on quality and yield of tomato fruits

Abstract

Grafting of tomato is considered as an innovative technique which aims at better root development and higher resistance to soil-borne diseases. During a period of three years, 2004 until 2006, experiments regarding the effect of several different rootstocks on the quality and yield of tomato fruits were conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad. The cultivar used as scion was 'Jeremy' and cultivars 'Maxifort', 'Beaufort', 'Vigomax', Licopersicon esculentum var. cerasiformae, Licopersicon esculentum var. pruniformae, Licopersicon esculentum var. pyriformae, and F 1 hybrid of eggplant - 'Madona' were used as rootstocks. The experiment has been carried out in the plastic tunnel. Seedlings were produced in the plastic tunnel with the heating and after transplanting production have been carried out in the plastic tunnel without heating. Tomato had been hand picked, and the following measurements were recorded: yield of tomato fruits, pH values, lycopene and vitamin C content. The results show that there was no significant difference in pH between different treatments. The lycopene content was significantly higher in 2005 compared with 2004 and 2006. The highest yield in 2004 was achieved in the treatment with 'Vigomax' as a rootstock, and in 2005 and 2006 with 'Maxifort'. Using these two cultivars, 'Vigomax' and 'Maxifort', an increase in yield, compared to control, can be expected. There was no significant influence of the rootstock type on the color intensity of the tomato fruits.