Evaluation of production conditions of tomato grafted with different tobacco rootstocks and determining nicotine content and quality of fruit

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of grafting tomato on different tobacco rootstocks on quality factors and nicotine content. The commercial variety (Solanum lycopersicum 'H2274') (BIOTECH) of the tomato was used as the scion plant, and six different tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) rootstocks were used: Tasova, Tekel, Mus, Samsun, Disbudak, Hasankeyf cultivars. Cleft grafting method was used in all plants. Yield of non-grafted and grafted plants grown in open-field conditions was calculated, and there was a significant increase in yield in grafted tomatoes compared to nongrafted tomatoes. There was significantly increased lycopene and β-carotene levels (mg kg-1), especially in 'Tekel', 'Tasova', 'Samsun', and 'Hasankeyf ' tobacco grafts. There was a statistically significant difference between grafted and non-grafted plants according to 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical retention capacities and total phenol (TP) values. Evaluation of quality determinants including pH values, titratable acidity values (citric acid %), soluble solid content (SSC) (oBrix), fruit size ratios, showed that tomatoes grafted with 'Mus' tobacco rootstock were of higher quality. There was no significant difference between grafted and non-grafted plants according to nicotine analysis of the tobacco-grafted tomatoes, and due to acceptable ranges of nicotin level on tobacco grafted tomato plants were considered to be suitable for consumption. It could be concluded that grafting practices have significantly positive effects on tomato yield and quality.