Evaluation of the Effects of Grafting and Vermicompost Applications on the Morphophysiological Properties of Eggplant under Drought Stress with Principal Component Analysis

Drought is one of the important abiotic stresses that significantly affect plant growth and development process. The use of grafted plants and vermicompost application creates significant potential for tolerance to drought stress. The scope of the study; consists of the evaluation of the effects of grafting and vermicompost applications on the morphophysiological properties of eggplant under drought stress by principal component analysis (PCA). In the experiment, different amounts of vermicompost-V (0, 1, 2, 3%) were applied to the grafting and non-grafting plants under different levels of drought stress conditions (Control; 100%; mild stress-MS; 70% and severe stress-SS; 30% irrigation) at the greenhouse. In terms of traits studied, the first two of the components had 94.39% of the total variation in the grafted plants. PCA showed that 'V(3%)+MS' and 'V(2%)+MS' were in significant and positive correlations with SPAD, leaf area-LA, relative water content-RWC, shoot dry weight-SDW, and root fresh weight -RFW. 'V(%3)+MS' and 'V(%2)+MS' applications; shoot length-SL correlated positively and weakly with stomata conductivity-gs, shoot fresh weight-SFW, shoot diameter-SD, and root dry weight-RDW. Based on the relationships between the variables; in general, the correlations of all the examined parameters with each other were found to be significant and positive. Especially; the positive and significant correlations between SPAD and LA and RWC, SDW and RFW, gs and SL and SFW, and RDW and SD were obvious. Consequently, the use of grafted plants and V treatments in eggplants under MS conditions improved the morphophysiological parameters of the plants and increased their tolerance to stress. Therefore, it can be seen as an effective strategy for sustainable agricultural practices.