A hydroponic study was conducted to evaluate whether grafting with some hybrid tomato rootstock could enhance tolerance to salinity of some local tomato scion genotypes and verify morpho-physiological, and biochemical reactions stimulated by rootstocks under salinity. Plants were tested at control (1.5 dS m− 1), medium (4 dS m− 1) and high (8 dS m− 1) salt stress levels by implementing an aerated Deep-Water Culture technique in a fully automated climate chamber. Three scion genotypes (Iraq 1, Iraq 2, and Karahidir) were grafted onto two rootstock genotypes (Ege 50 and ATS06) to evaluate salt tolerance. Salinity led to significant decline in plant growth and biomass accumulation as compared to control conditions, confirming the detrimental influences of stress on crop development. Conversely, salt-tolerant rootstocks enhanced biomass production under salinity, indicating a substantial contribution of rootstock genotype to growth performance and yield formation. Grafting noticeably alleviated salt stress, with ATS06 enhancing leaf number by up to 51.5

Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) in crops refers to the yield gain per unit of N available in status of soil. Genetic modification or breeding techniques ensure excellent N absorption from the soil, and efficient utilization can improve it. To improve NUE and reduce production losses initiated by low Nitrogen Efficiency (NE) in maximum yielded vegetable crops, the principle is to graft these crops onto rootstocks that can improve scion NE in both minimum-input and maximum-input crop structures. Grafting at vegetable species is horticultural technique that combines numerous scions and rootstocks to enhance biotic and abiotic stress tolerances. N‑efficient rootstock can enhance crop’s NUE, which relies upon genotypic variability of both scion and the root stock, as well as their interactions in the graft combination. This review that consolidates existing data on the adverse influences of low and high N enrichment in vegetable crops, highlighting significance of balanced N management to reach optimum growth, yield, and fruit quality, and the position of vegetable grafting for improving NUE by grafting with N‑efficient rootstocks at sustainable horticultural crop production. Additionally, we reviewed all the newest data regarding grafting using various vegetable rootstocks to enhance growth and development, NUE, yield, and quality. This report may help scientists and producers improve yield and quality at low and high N levels in vegetable crops. We assess the report’s findings on how grafting can enhance productivity in horticultural production systems at both low and high N conditions.

We aimed to investigate the rootstock effects on plant growth performance and root nutrient contents and uptake of pepper inbred line (IL) based on the physiological and morphological response mechanisms. Four IL were grafted with two rootstocks, and ungrafted scions were used as control plants. As a result, among grafted and control plants substantial (p < 0.001) variances were found in morphological, physiological parameters and K, Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn composition. Significantly a higher leaf area, rootstock and scion diameter, shoot fresh and dry biomasses was found in IL 'ER & Uuml; 1227' grafted with 'Scarface', significantly higher Ca and Mn composition were found in '21H-1-2' grafted with 'Scarface'; however, significantly higher root fresh-dry biomasses and Zn composition was recorded in 'ER & Uuml; 1227' grafted onto '46 KB F1' rootstock. 'Scarface' rootstock performed better than the '46 KB F1' rootstock; thus, it is advised as the best rootstock genotype with wide scion compatibility. As conclusion, vigorous rootstocks which could be illustrated beside an effective nutrient uptake, perform key functions in the enhancement of plant growth performance and root nutrient contents.

Water and soil salinity are among the most significant ecological factors limiting agricultural productivity, especially in saline-affected regions. In vegetable crops, salt stress adversely affects physiological practices like water uptake, photosynthesis, and nutrient absorption, leading to stunted growth, wilting, and reduced yields. Numerous approaches have been developed to improve the salinity tolerance of vegetable plants, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Among these approaches, vegetable grafting, a horticultural practice, offers a suggesting alternative solution to overcome salt stress’ harmful outcomes. Grafting technology, a horticultural practice where the tissues of two different plant parts (rootstock and scion) are joined to grow as one, has emerged as a promising solution to enhance salt tolerance in vegetable crops. By utilizing salt-tolerant rootstocks, grafting improves root system development, enhances nutrient uptake, and activates protective biochemical responses, including increased antioxidant activity. Vegetable grafting has been utilized commercially on numerous crops such as melons, watermelons, muskmelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplants, to improve tolerances to type of biotic and abiotic conditions, like salinity, alkalinity, waterlogging, high or low temperatures, drought, and heavy metal toxicity, as well as to enhance crop yield and quality. This review aims to present the adverse effects of salt stress at plants, the potential of grafting technology in mitigating salt stress in vegetable crops, and examining the physiological, biochemical, and morphological benefits of grafting by using salt resistant rootstocks under saline conditions. Furthermore, the paper highlights successful case studies and research findings that demonstrate the effectiveness of grafting in improving salt tolerance in various vegetable species using different rootstocks on improving plant growth, photosynthetic capacity, crop yield and quality. The integration of biotechnological and genetic engineering approaches with grafting also holds potential to further enhance its efficacy. The future of grafting technology in sustainable agriculture is promising, offering a viable solution to maintain crop productivity and resilience in the face of increasing salinity challenges worldwide. We conclude that vegetable grafting has great potential for maintaining and improving productivity in salt-stressed agricultural systems.

Among the abiotic stresses, it is not just only the nitrogen that is the limiting factor in crop growth and yields, but also due to the shortage and uneven distribution of water resources, drought stress has become a most critical circumstances restricting sustainable crop production. The aim of this study was to determine genotypic differences in the Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) of some local and hybrid tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) genotypes and to assess whether grafting with rootstocks could improve the NUE and drought tolerance of susceptible tomato scions. Plants were grown hydroponically under high N (3.0 mM) supply treated with drought stress (10

In evaluations conducted under high and low nitrogen conditions, the morphological and physiological performance of pepper genotypes was compared across tissue culture and hydroponic systems. Under low nitrogen conditions, most genotypes showed similar rankings in both systems, indicating stable and environment-independent genotypic responses. Notably, 21 H-1-1, ERÜ 462, and ERÜ 457 consistently performed well across all traits, whereas 24-H-6, 29-H-10, and ERÜ 1248 ranked among the lowest-performing genotypes. In contrast, under high nitrogen conditions, genotypic performance varied more strongly depending on the cultivation system. Genotypes grown in tissue culture showed greater biomass accumulation and nitrogen uptake. While 21 H-1-1, ERÜ 462, and ERÜ 457 were among the top performers in tissue culture, their counterparts in hydroponic culture exhibited relatively lower performance. This indicates that system-specific effects play a more prominent role under high nitrogen supply. Considering both nitrogen levels, 21 H-1-1 and ERÜ 462 emerged as promising candidates for breeding programs due to their high nitrogen use efficiency and consistent performance across multiple environments. If a low-cost selection approach is desired, preliminary selection under low nitrogen conditions using tissue culture may be sufficient and effective for genotype differentiation.

Çalışmada Türkiye’nin farklı bölgelerinden temin edilen kıl, sivri ve dolma biber saf hatların ve farklı biber anaçlarının büyüme, bitkisel gelişim ve yaprak fizyolojik özelliklerinin belirlenmesidir. Çalışma sonucunda güçlü kök yapısına olanlar ve zayıf gelişen saf hatlar belirlenerek, bir sonraki çalışmada güçlü kök yapısına sahip olanlar üzerine zayıf gelişen saf hatların aşılanması ile güçlü köklerin bitkisel gelişim üzerindeki etkisi test edilmiştir. Çalışma Erciyes Üniversitesi, Ziraat Fakültesi Bahçe Bitkileri Bölümü’ne ait olan serada 3 tekrarlı olarak 8 L’lik plastik kovalarda sürekli hava sirkülasyonunun sağlandığı besin çözeltisinde yapılmış; kıl biber , sivri ve dolmalık biber saf hatları ve farklı biber anaçları tarama-seçim testine tabii tutulmuştur. Bitkilerde vejetatif aksam (gövde+yaprak) ve kök yaş ağırlıkları, kök/gövde oranı, ana gövde uzunluğu, yan dal ve yaprak sayısı, yaprak alanı, fotosentez ve yaprak klorofil içeriği belirlenmiştir. Çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre, biber saf hatları arasından 29H-1 yaprak klorofil içeriği, kök/gövde oranı ve kök yaş ağırlığı gibi parametreler bakımından istatistiki olarak en iyi sonucu verirken, 33H-1-2 ise fotosentez ve yaprak klorofil içeriği (SPAD) bakımından istatistiki olarak en iyi neticeleri vermiştir. Anaç adayları arasından Güçlü F1 anacı fotosentez, yaprak klorofil içeriği, ana gövde uzunluğu ve kök/gövde oranı gibi parametreler bakımından istatistiki olarak en iyi sonucu verirken, Yaocali F1 anacı ise vejetatif aksam (gövde+yaprak) ve kök yaş ağırlığı gibi parametreler bakımından istatistiki olarak en iyi neticeleri vermiştir.

Soil fertility is declining in low-input agriculture due to insufficient fertilizer application by small-scale farmers. On the other hand, concerns are rising regarding the environmental pollution of both air and water in high-input agriculture due to the excessive use of N fertilizers in short growing seasons for vegetable crops, which is directly linked to the health of human beings and environmental safety. This study aimed to determine genotypic differences in the Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) levels of different leafy vegetable species (Arugula, Spinach, Cress, Parsley, and Dill) grown hydroponically under two different N rates, low N (0.3 mM) and high N (3.0 mM), and to identify the plant traits that are contributing to NUE. A nutrient solution experiment was conducted between March and April 2024 by using an aerated Deep-Water Culture (DWC) technique in a fully automated climate room with a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replications for five weeks. The results indicated that shoot growth, as well as root morphological and leaf physiological responses, was significantly (p < 0.001) affected by genotype, the N rate, and genotype–N rate interactions. Shoot growth in some vegetable species (Arugula, Spinach, and Cress) was significantly higher under a low N than a high N rate, illustrating that they have a great capability for NUE under low N stress conditions. Similar results were also recorded for the root growth of the N-efficient species under low N rates. The NUE levels of these species were closely associated with leaf physiological (leaf area, leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD), photosynthesis, and total leaf chlorophyll (a + b) and carotenoids) and root morphological (root length, root volume, and average root diameter) characteristics. These plant traits could be useful indicators for the selection and breeding of ‘N-efficient’ leafy vegetable species for sustainable low-input agriculture systems in the future. However, further investigation should be carried out at the field level to confirm their commercial production viability.

Salt stress is a significant abiotic factor that constrains agricultural productivity by impairing plant growth, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Vegetables, ranging from sensitive to moderately tolerant to salinity, experience adverse effects such as disruptions in seed germination, growth, flowering, and fruit development. Salinity hampers water uptake from the soil, as higher salt concentrations in the root zone increase the energy required by plants to absorb water. Sodium salts, in particular, interfere with the uptake of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, leading to nutritional imbalances. Furthermore, salinity induces oxidative and osmotic stress, ion toxicity, and hormonal disturbances, while also heightening plants‘ susceptibility to diseases. Crops in the Cucurbitaceae family, such as Cucumis sativus (cucumber) and Citrullus lanatus (watermelon), are known to exhibit diverse physiological and biochemical strategies to cope with salinity, including efficient ion transport regulation, osmolyte production, and antioxidant activity. Crops in the Cucurbitaceae family, such as Cucumis sativus (cucumber) and Citrullus lanatus (watermelon), exhibit diverse physiological strategies to cope with salinity. These traits are critical due to their economic significance in global agriculture. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial due to the economic significance of this family in global agriculture. This review examines the effects of salt stress on plant growth and development, explores tolerance mechanisms, and highlights the potential of crops from the Cucurbitaceae family to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.

The aim of this study was to determine the genotypic differences in salt tolerance of third back-crossed peeper progenies and their respective parents through examining the changes in the shoot growth at agronomical, root growth at morphological and leaf development at physiological levels under salt stress. A hydroponic experiment was conducted by using an aerated Deep-Water Culture (DWC) technique in a controlled growth chamber of Erciyes University, Agricultural Faculty in Kayseri, Turkey. Five pepper plants (BC3-1, BC3-2, BC3-3, BC3-4, BC3-5) were selected from the third backcrossed (BC3) progenies of Sena and Kopan. Plants were grown in 8 L pots filled continuously aerated nutrient solution under at two electrical conductivity (EC) levels (control at 1.0 dS m−1 and salt at 8.0 dS m−1) in RBD design with four replications for six weeks. Significant reductions in leaf, shoot and root fresh and dry biomass productions, total leaf area, total root length, and total root volume of pepper plants were recorded under hydroponic salt stress. On the other hand, significant differences in salt tolerance among backcrossed peeper progenies and their respective parents existed. Particularly the progeny of BC3-3 was more tolerant characterized to salinity than the other progenies of third backcrossed and their respective parents. This was highly associated with vigorous root growth (root fresh and dry weight, total root length and volume) and photosynthetically active leaves (total leaf area, leaf chlorophyll index, chloride exclusion) under hydroponic salt stress. These traits could be useful characters to select and breed salt-tolerant pepper varieties for sustainable agriculture in the future.

Demand for low-cost and affordable alternating sources of plant nutrient responses to boost the nutrient level of damaged arable farmlands has been a main concern for soil scientists, agronomists, and local farmers. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of fish wastewater on the growth parameters, yield, and biomass productivity of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as compared by using in aerated nutrient solution under deep water culture (DWC) technique. The experiment was carried out to investigate shoot and root fresh and dry weight, total leaf number, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD), photosynthesis, leaf total chlorophyll (a+ b), leaf total carotenoid content, total leaf area, leaf NRA activity, total root length, root volume and average root diameter. Lettuce plants were examined by using an aerated deep-water culture (DWC) technique in a fully automated climate room for six weeks. The seedlings were transplanted onto 8 L continuously aerated pots containing mix of different ratios of fish effluent water with tap water with six different treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6) and replicated three times. The fish wastewater effluents did not reduce the growth of lettuce plants. Shoot and root fresh and dry matter, total leaf number, leaf total chlorophyll (a+ b), leaf total carotenoid content, total leaf area, leaf NRA activity, total root length, root volume and average root diameter of lettuce plants were significantly increased with under T3 treatment (Tap water + 1.5 mM N + 50 ml Nutrient solution + 8 ml Fe + 1000 ml Fish effluent water). However, the lettuce plants grown under T4 treatment (Tap water + 1.5 mM N + 250 ml Fish effluent water) had the lowest shoot and root fresh matter, total leaf number, photosynthesis, total leaf area, leaf NRA activity, total root length, root volume and average root diameter. The compost derived from the fish wastewater plays an important role in supplying the nutrients for cultivating the lettuce plants. Also, in this study appreciable nutrients were significantly obtained in treatments treated with fish wastewater, as compared with the ground (tap) water. Thus, grown lettuce with aquaculture is a good source of nutrition for human consumption.

The genotypic differences in nitrogen (N) utilization efficiency of third backcrossed (BC3) progenies of Sena (Capsicum annuum L.; recurrent parent) and Kopan (Chile penguin; donor parent) pepper plants were determined by examining the changes in the shoot growth at agronomical, root growth at morphological and leaf development at physiological levels under high and low N rates. A hydroponic experiment was conducted by using an aerated deep water culture (DWC) technique in a controlled growth chamber in the spring 2015 growing season. As plant materials, five pepper plants (BC3‑1, BC3‑2, BC3‑3, BC3‑4, BC3-5) were selected from the third backcrossed (BC3) progenies of Sena and Kopan. Plants were grown in 8 L pots filled continuously aerated nutrient solution under at low N (0.5 mM N) and high N (3.0 mM N) rates in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications for 6 weeks. At the experiment plant growth, leaf, shoot and root fresh and dry weights, total leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD), total root length, total root volume and average root diameter in pepper plants were assessed. Significant differences in N efficiency were observed between the backcrossed pepper progenies and their respective parents. Leaf, and shoot fresh and dry weights, total leaf area, and leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) of pepper plants were significantly increased with increasing N rate: 3.0 mM N increased leaf fresh weight by 149.8%, shoot fresh weight by 116.4%, shoot dry weight by 119.6%, total leaf area by 94.54%, and SPAD by 21.28% at BC3‑3 plants as compared to progenies of third backcrosses and their respective parents. Regarding root morphological parameters, pepper plants under high N rate displayed a lower performance than plants under low N rate. Increasing N rate led to a decrease in root fresh weight by 37.96%, and root dry weight by 35.93%. Overall, the N efficiency of the progeny of BC3‑3 was highly associated with vigorous root growth (root fresh and dry weight, total root length and volume) and photosynthetically active leaves (total leaf area, and leaf chlorophyll index) under low N conditions, which could be useful to select and breed “N efficient” pepper varieties.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of three different manganese (Mn) concentrations on the plant growth, leaf chlorophyll, carotenoid content, photosynthetic activity, and root morphological development in eggplant (Solanum melongena L. ‘Adana cv. Dolmalık’ and ‘Köksal cv. F1’). Plants were grown continuously in aerated nutrient solution by using a deep-water culture (DWC) technique in a fully automated climate room. A randomized block design with three replications was used. Both excessive (400 µM) and insufficient (0.4 µM) Mn concentrations in the root zone reduced the shoot fresh and dry matter, branch number, leaf area, and leaf chlorophyll content in both examined genotypes in comparison with optimal Mn concentrations (200 µM). Köksal cv. F1 produced higher shoot and root biomasses, root:shoot ratio, total leaf number, leaf total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, total leaf area, and average root diameter at the low concentration of Mn. Conversely, Adana cv. Dolmalık produced significantly higher stem length, shoot and root biomasses, total root length and root volume at high Mn concentrations. Overall, both deficit and excess Mn nutrition could induce disorders in the growth and development of eggplant which may reduce crop yield.

In this study, two hydroponic experiments were carried out in a nutrient solution growth system in a growth chamber to determine the morphological and physiological background of nitrogen efficiency in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). In the first experiment, 16 pepper inbred lines and 2 pepper commercial rootstocks were screened under 2 nitrogen (N) doses (0.3 mM and 3.0 mM N) in a completely randomized block design with 3 replications. In the second experiment, four pepper lines (N-efficient: 21-H- 1-1 and AH-2-3, N-inefficient: ERU 1248 and 24-H-6) selected in the first stage of the study were grafted reciprocally and tested under 2 N doses. By using nitrogen efficient lines (21-H-1-1/24-H-6, 21-H-1-1/ERU 1248, AH-2-3/ERU 1248, AH-2-3/24-H-6) as rootstocks increased growth and biomass production compared to non-grafted control plants (N-inefficient), while using N-efficient lines (1248/21-H-1-1, ERU 1248/AH-2-3, 24-H-6/21-H-1-1, 24-H-6/AH-2-3) as scion (ERU caused lower shoot growth than the control (N-efficient). It is also seen that well-developed strong root systems are the most important factor contributing to N use efficiency in pepper.

In this study, different eggplant scion genotypes were grafted onto different eggplant rootstock genotypes in order to assess the plant growth, development, and fruit yield of eggplant plants based on the physiological and morphological response mechanisms. The experiment was conducted at the vegetable research field plot on the campus at Faculty of Agriculture, University of Erciyes, Kayseri-Turkey. The field experiment was carried out to determine plant growth, shoot and root fresh and dry biomasses, plant height, total leaf area, leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD), rootstock and scion stem diameter, number of fruits per plant, total fruit yield, fruit dry matter, fruit diameter and length, total seed yield, and thousand seed weight. Two eggplant cultivars (Topan and Pala) were grafted onto two different eggplant rootstock genotypes (Hawk and K?ksal F1), while non-grafted scion genotypes were used as control plants. The experiment was laid in a randomized completely block design (RCBD) containing three replications. The results indicated that between grafted and non-grafted plants significant (P<0.001) differences were observed in shoot and root fresh and dry biomasses, plant height, total leaf area, leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD), rootstock and scion stem diameter, number of fruits per plant, total fruit yield, fruit dry matter, fruit diameter and length, total seed yield, and thousand seed weight. The rootstocks utilized have influenced the vigour of the grafted plants. The ?Pala? grafted on the rootstock ?K?ksal F1? registered 61.91% increment in shoot fresh biomass and 49.04% increment in root fresh biomass in comparison to the non-grafted plants. Grafting influenced plant height which reached values of roughly 1.0 m, leaf are resulting in values of 5645.04 cm2 plant-1, and SPAD resulting in values of 47.48 at ?Pala/K?ksal F1? graft combination in comparison to the non-grafted plants. The grafting combinations also influenced the productivity of plants as compare to non-grafted plants. The significantly highest fruit yield obtained from ?Pala/K?ksal F1? graft combination was of 4711.89 g plant-1, followed by ?Topan/K?ksal F1? graft combination with 3834.54 g plant-1. ?Pala? was produced 11.49 number of fruits per plant when grafted on the ?K?ksal F1? rootstock and 8.46 number of fruits per plant when grafted on the ?Hawk? rootstock. Regarding seed yield, ?Pala? grafted on the rootstock ?K?ksal F1? registered 72.03% increment in total seed yield in comparison to the non-grafted plants. Overall, the eggplant rootstock genotypes ?K?ksal F1? showed a better performance shoot and root fresh and dry biomasses, plant height, total leaf area, leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD), rootstock and scion stem diameter, number of fruits per plant, total fruit yield, fruit dry matter, fruit diameter and length, total seed yield, and thousand seed weight as compared to non-grafted plants.

To assess whether grafting could improve the nitrogen (N) efficiency of potato cultivars and to determine which physiological and morphological characteristics are predominantly contributing to N efficiency, a hydroponic experiment was conducted. Two contrasting potato cultivars (Agria: N‑efficient and Van Gogh: N‑inefficient) were grafted reciprocally onto each other. Grafted and non-grafted control plants were grown in a growth chamber for 42 days in 8 L pots filled with continuously aerated nutrient solution under two N rates (Low-N : 0.5 mM N and High-N : 3.0 mM N) by using a deep water culture (DWC) technique. The shoot and root fresh (FW) and dry (DW) weights, main stem length, number of leaves, total leaf area, photosynthetic activity of leaves, shoot and root N concentration, total N uptake, total root length and root volume of potato plants were significantly increased with increased N rate. The grafted plants produced significantly higher above ground biomass than non-grafted ones, indicating that N efficiency was significantly improved by the reciprocally grafting under low and high N rates. Non-grafted cv. Agria showed higher numbers of shoot and root FW and DW, total leaf area, intensity of photosynthesis net measurements, compared to non-grafted cv. Van Gogh under both N rates. In reciprocal grafting, the growth performance of cv. Agria slightly increased when it was grafted onto cv. Van Gogh, whereas a significant increase in crop growth performance was recorded when cv. Van Gogh was grafted onto cv. Agria. The N efficiency of non-grafted cv. Agria was closely associated with its vigorous root growth and active root system under both N conditions. Same root morphological characteristic could not be exhibited by the N‑inefficient cv. Van Gogh. Our study suggested that root morphological characteristics are contributing more than shoot characteristics to N efficiency of potatoes. These traits could be useful characters to breed/select N‑efficient potato rootstocks for sustainable agriculture in the future.

In this study, pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) inbred lines were grafted onto different rootstock genotypes and tested under saline conditions. A hydroponic experiment was conducted in nutrient solution growth system in a growth chamber of Erciyes University, Agricultural Faculty in Kayseri, Turkey. The experiment was conducted in spring 2017 growth season. Two pepper inbred lines (ERÜ-462 and ERÜ-1227) were grafted onto three different pepper rootstocks/genotypes (Scarface F1, 11B14, and Yaocali F1) and grown in 8 L pots filled with continuously aerated nutrient solution under saline conditions (8 dS m−1) with three replications. The growth chamber experiment was carried out to determine the effects of salt stress on plant growth, shoot and root dry weights, leaf area, photosynthesis, leaf total chlorophyll (a + b) and carotenoid content, proline content, glycine betaine content, leaf electrolyte leakage, leaf and root macro element concentration in grafted and non-grafted pepper plants. The results indicated that ERÜ-462 grafted on to Scarface and 11B14 rootstock genotypes were more tolerant to salinity than ERÜ-1227 in term of leaf chlorophyll (a + b) content and leaf carotenoid content, photosynthesis, and proline content. Though, higher shoot and root biomass, leaf area formation, root K+, Na+, Cl− contents were observed when ERÜ-1227 grafted on to Scarface and 11B14 rootstock genotypes. Strong rootstock promoted plant growth in pepper plant both under control and saline conditions and significant depression of plant biomass production under saline conditions was observed in both grafted and non-grafted plants. However, grafting onto vigorous rootstocks alleviated negative effects of salinity stress on pepper plants. Scarface and 11B14 were found more tolerant to salinity than non-grafted pepper plants and the other genotypes used as regard to investigated parameters.

In this study, grafted and ungrafted pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait.) plants were tested under different saline conditions. The nutrient solution experiment was conducted within October – November 2016, by employing the technique of Deep-Water Culture (DWC) in an entirely operated automatically climate chamber found in the Plant Physiology Laboratory of Erciyes University, Agriculture Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey. Plants were examined under three various salt levels (i.e., 1 dS m-1, 4 dS m-1 and 8 dS m-1) by growing them in a 8 liter pots loaded constantly in an aerated Hoagland solution. The study was organized with completely randomized block design through three repetitions. The climate chamber study was performed to investigate effects of salt stress on plant growth, shoot- root fresh- dry weights, photosynthesis, leaf area formation, chlorophyll content of leaf (SPAD), leaf and root electrolyte leakage, total length of root, volume of root, and diameter of root in grafted and ungrafted pepino plants. The results showed that shoot growth, root morphological and leaf physiological responses were considerably (p<0.001) influenced by various levels of salt conditions at the nutrient solution. Increased salt level of the nutrient solution decreased significantly root and shoot growth, area of leaf, photosynthetic activity of both grafted and ungrafted plants. Irrespective of being grafted, significant declines were observed in shoot fresh weight (23.6%, 52.1%), root fresh weight (24.8%, 52.8%), leaf area (21.3%, 51.9%), shoot dry weight (24.3%, 53.0%), root dry weight (15.4%, 45.1%), SPAD (5.7%, 18.7%), photosynthesis rate (24.6%, 42.1%), total root length (6.7%, 16.4%), and root volume (3.8%, 5.8%) of pepino plants under 4 dS m-1 salt applications and 8 dS m-1 salt applications, respectively. Grafting promoted growth of plant in pepino plants under both control and saline conditions, furthermore it was noticed that under saline conditions biomass production of both grafted and ungrafted ones were significantly depressed.Grafted plants produced 54.1%, 43.0% and 9.6% higher shoot fresh weight; 52.0%, 42.0% and 12.8% higher root fresh weight; 52.5%, 40.7% and 8.7% higher leaf area; 60.0%, 46.6% and 11.1% higher shoot dry weight; 68.8%, 36.0% and 29.3% higher root dry weight; 19.9%, 9.2% and 8.2% higher SPAD; 8.0%, 5.1% and 10.8% higher photosynthesis rate; 8.6%, 3.6% and 6.6% higher total root length; 3.1%, 6.7% and 2.4% higher root volume than ungrafted plants under 1 dS m-1, 4 dS m-1 and 8 dS m-1 salt applications, correspondingly. Overall, our study showed that the effectiveness of grafting with respect to expansion of plants growth and development under salinity. Grafting was demonstrated to be an effective mean to achieve this goal.