CARACTERÍSTICAS AGRONÔMICAS E FISIOLÓGICAS DE TOMATEIRO EM FUNÇÃO DE PORTA-ENXERTOS E MÉTODOS DE ENXERTIA

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of different solanaceous as rootstocks for tomato, and grafted by different grafting methods. Three experiments were carried out, in which Santa Cruz Kada® culture was used as graft. Nine rootstocks were evaluated: 1- access chery tomato 0224-53; 2- access chery tomato RVTC 57; 3- access chery tomato RVTC 20; 4- access chery tomato 6889-50; 5- wild tomato species Solanum habrochaites var hirsutum (PI-127826); 6- wild tomato species Solanum pennellii `LA716`, 7- cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum); 8- físalis (Physalis peruviana) and 9- Santa Cruz Kada® tomato culture (witness), and two grafting methods were tested: 1- cleft (FC) and 2- approach (EC). For the first experiment there were analyzed: fixation grafting index (IP); and vegetative growth of seedlings characteristics. For the second experiment the combinations were evaluated on the following characteristics: plant survival rate (SP); graft incompatibility (IE); gas exchange; and SPAD index. And for the third experiment, the vegetative and productive characteristics of plants and analytical analysis of the fruits. Based on the results, is was possible to verify that most of the evaluated characteristics were significantly influenced by the rootstock x grafting method interaction, that access chery tomato 6889-50 has low fixation of grafting as rootstock, and fisalis presents grafting incompatibility with the cultivated tomato. Both grafting methods evaluated proved to be viable for most combinations of grafting proposed in this research, however, the results can vary with the rootstock to be used. The cleft grafting method provided higher production and fruit quality, when compared to the approach grafting method. It was noticed that the S. pennellii rootstocks and cubiu, although produced fruits with better performance, showed low fruit production. Regarding to chery-tomato access, it can be considered that more studies to evaluate its potential as rootstocks are required. It was verified that the wild tomato species S. hirsutum var habrochaites (PI-127826) is an important alternative for use as rootstock. S. habrochaites increased quantum yield (A), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) of water use efficiency (EUA) and production of commercial fruits.