Compatibility and performance of susceptible tomato cultivars grafted onto bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) resistant rootstock
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Date
2020
Authors
Kanyua, Stella
Mwangi, Maina
Mbaka, Jesca
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Applied Biosciences
Abstract
Objective: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) belongs to the Solanaceae family and currently is one of the
most important vegetable crops. Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a soil borne disease of
tomato causing significant economic damage on tomatoes, tobacco and potatoes. Bacterial wilt is difficult to
manage because the pathogen can survive in soil for long periods in association with a wide range of crops
such as pepper, potato, capsicum, eggplants and weeds such as Jimson weed and nightshade. The
objective of this study was to determine compatibility and performance of susceptible tomato cultivars
grafted onto bacterial wilt resistant rootstocks.
Methodology: Scions from susceptible tomato commercial cultivars (Anna F1 and Cal J) were grafted onto
rootstocks of Eggplant, Sodom apple and tomato cultivar Mt56 that were determined to be resistant to
bacterial wilt in a previous study. Cleft grafting technique was used in the experiment. Data on compatibility
was assessed daily to check on the healing of the graft union and number of established plants. The
grafted plants were considered compatible if 67% of the grafted plants had healed and growth established
fourteen days after grafting. Data were subjected to ANOVA using GenStat version 15 and significantly
different treatment means separated using LSD at P < 0.05.
Results and application: The grafted plants were compatible at varying rates, that is Mt56 + Anna F1
(93.30%), Mt56 + Cal J (76.7%), S. melongena + Anna F1 (96.7%), S. melongena + Cal J (83.3%), S.
incarnum + Anna F1 (73.3% ), and S. incarnum + Cal J (100%). It was concluded that tomato scions and
the botanically related wilt resistant rootstocks are compatible. All the grafted plants performed well except
those on Sodom apple rootstock whose stem did not expand at the rate as the scion stem. It is
recommended that the proven resistant rootstocks be deployed to tomato farmers for use in tomato grafting
and subsequent increase in their production.
Description
A research article published in Journal of Applied Biosciences
Keywords
Grafting, Compatibility, Performance, Bacterial wilt
Citation
Stella, K., Maina, M., & Jesca, M. Compatibility and performance of susceptible tomato cultivars grafted onto bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) resistant rootstock. Journal of Applied Biosciences, 147, 15100-15107.