Evaluation of WorldVeg rootstock lines for grafted tomato production in Uzbekistan

Tomato is consumed year-round in Central Asia. The crop is sown on a larger area than any other vegetable in the region, and tomato production levels exceed that of all other vegetables. However, local tomato varieties lack tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. To address these concerns, the World Vegetable Center’s (WorldVeg) tomato grafting technology was introduced and WorldVeg rootstock lines were evaluated in Uzbekistan. Grafting can help overcome some soil-borne diseases, flooding, and saline soils. Following WorldVeg’s standard practices for grafting and cultivation, local variety Gulkand was grafted onto four rootstock lines with non-grafted Gulkand seedlings as the check. Experiment design was in four replications. Gulkand scions grafted onto three rootstocks flowered earlier (96-98 days) and ripened earlier (131-133 days) compared to the non-grafted Gulkand plants and treatment 1. Yield of non-grafted Gulkand plants from two harvests was 11.08 kg/m2. All four grafted plants had a higher yield than the check. The highest yield at 116% was observed in treatment 2. In comparison with the check fruit weight (109 g), heavier fruit (126-128 g) was observed in treatments 2 and 4. Plants in treatment 2 accumulated less nitrate nitrogen than the check. Nitrate nitrogen levels were slightly higher in treatment 1. Based on these indicators, treatments 2 and 4 were the best performers, characterized by strong plant development, high yield and fruit weight. Treatments 1 and 2 showed the highest accumulation of chemical content in tomato fruit. Lines in treatments 1, 2 and 4 are recommended as rootstocks for tomato grafting.