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A tomato cultivar ('Izmir F1') grafted onto six commercially available rootstocks ('Arnold', 'Dohkko', 'Emperador', 'He-man', 'Kaiser', and 'Suzuka') together with self-grafted plants of the tomato cultivar (Izmir/Izmir) were included in a pot experiment. Growth, root morphology and nutrient uptake parameters were evaluated under different salinity conditions (0 and 50 mM NaCl). Grafting increases root length, specific root length, and root length ratio, which enhances the capabilities of hetero-grafted plants to exploit a larger volume of soil or otherwise increase root density under root restriction conditions. Since the root traits and nutrient concentrations in hetero-grafted variants were less impacted by a change in the salinity level, the use of specific rootstocks ('Arnold,' 'Dohkko,' 'Kaiser') could contribute to a steadier growth and yield of tomato plants under fluctuating salinity levels in the irrigation water. The hetero-grafted tomato plants (Dohkko/Izmir, Suzuka/Izmir) demonstrated higher Na sequestration/compartmentalization capabilities than the self-grafted (Izmir/Izmir) plants which helps to maintain a more appropriate K+/Na+ ratio. By exhibiting lower translocation indexes of some heavy metals (Al, Ni, Zn, and Cd), appropriate rootstock/scion combinations might be a useful tool for reducing the risk of their accumulation in edible plant organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grafting of vegetables, in addition to the effect of increasing resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, has been proven to have an effect on increasing the yield and quality of produced products. The pepper cultivar Somborka was the object of the study since the market demands are high for its taste and nutritional value. The study's objective was to evaluate grafted seedlings' effects on yield and fruit quality of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), Somborka cultivar under common open field conditions. The experiment was carried out at an open field farm located in Skenderaj municipality of Kosovo. Pepper grafted seedlings (GS) in two different rootstocks (Rokal and Fortama F1) and non-grafted seedlings (NG) were applied for the pepper cultivar Somborka. The effects of grafted seedlings on yield (kg/variant) the number of fruits (fruits/variant), mesocarp thickness (mm), and fruit weight (gr) were estimated under common open field conditions. The results of the experimental data revealed that the application of the grafted seedlings (GS) recorded significantly the highest yield, more fruits per plant, and the mesocarp thickness was higher compared with non-grafted (NG). No significant differences exist between the two applied pepper rootstocks on estimated parameters. These results confirm that using grafting techniques in pepper crops is a good strategy to have a higher yield and better quality. The obtained results emphasize the positive effect of grafting peppers on the average production compared with nongrafted plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of the Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungi on plant growth and yield of grafted cucumber seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a plastic greenhouse located in Shipol, Mitrovica municipality of Kosovo. Graded seeds of cucumber (cv. Ekron F1), and graded seeds of a rootstock (cv. Nimbus F1; C. maxima Duchesne x C. moschata Duchesne), were sown in polysterol trays. Three types of grafted seedlings; self-grafted (SEG), splice grafted (SG) and root pruned splice grafted (RPSG) were simultaneously produced in equal number as inoculated and non- inoculated with endogenous mycorrhiza. The combined effects of grafting methods and endogenous mycorrhiza (Glomus spp.) application on the growth parameters during the nursery period as well as growth rate and yield after transplanting were tested under common commercial conditions. The different grafting methods of cucumber seedlings on C. maxima x C. moschata (SG versus RPSG) have significant effects on seedlings growth parameters. Despite of commonly higher relative growth rate of RPSG seedlings till the transplanting time, SG seedlings have a significantly higher total plant dry weight (W). No difference was found regarding leaf dry weight (LW), while a significantly larger leaf area was found for RPSG seedlings. No effect of AM fungi presence was found regarding the growth parameters of grafted cucumber seedlings during the nursery stage, but the presence of AM fungi has significantly improved the growth rate of each grafting method after transplanting, as also increased the total harvested yield. The highest yield was recorded by AM inoculated RPSG seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]