Rootstock selection and grafting systems affect pepino (Solanum muricatum) fruit nutritional quality and plant performance.

ABSTRACT: Pepino (Solanum muricatum) is a nutritionally valuable Solanaceae crop, but optimizing its grafting practices to improve survival, growth, and fruit quality remains a critical challenge for commercial production. In this study, we systematically evaluated four pepino scions grafted onto nine Solanaceae rootstocks-including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum), and eggplant (Solanum melongena)-and optimized grafting parameters (cotyledon removal, grafting height, glucose pretreatment, and shading duration). We measured grafting survival, transplant success, vegetative growth, photosynthetic performance, metabolic activity, and antioxidant enzyme levels throughout early development. The optimal combination, 'Qingcanxiang' scion grafted onto eggplant rootstock 'Moshi', achi

SUBMITTER: Bao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12817745 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature