Salt-tolerant Tomato Rootstock Experiment

Project/Experiment Duration: 2019-2021

Objectives:

1. To identify salt-tolerant solanaceous rootstock genotypes that can be used for grafting under saline irrigation water.
2. To understand the mechanism by which salinity affects yield.
3. To study the performance of selected rootstock genotypes on yield and growth of commercial tomato genotypes.

Experimental Design: Strip-plot design

Treatments/Variables: Five rootstock genotypes and five salinity levels (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 dS/m)

Experimental layout: The greenhouses have five salinity levels (S1 – S5) and for each salinity level the cultivars are randomly assigned in three replications.

Rootstocks are used in horticulture for a variety of purposes. They have been used, for example, to increase fruit yield and quality, limit the effects of soil-borne and vascular diseases, enhance nutrient uptake, and improve water use. However, little research has been done on using rootstocks to increase the productivity of tomato under saline conditions. This is the purpose of ICBA’s experiment on salt-tolerant tomato rootstocks. The experiment aims to study whether and to what extent certain rootstock genotypes improve the yield and growth of commercial tomato genotypes. It will also help to understand how salinity affects yield.