Studies on germination and graft compatibility of tomato and brinjal scions with Solanum species rootstocks

The present experiment was conducted at Department of Vegetable Science, KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, UHS, Bagalkot, to study the germination and graft compatibility of Solanum species rootstocks and scions. Three wild Solanum species were used as rootstocks, while two each notable varieties / hybrids of tomato (Arka Vikas and Sungro 85) and brinjal (Melavanki Local and Mahy Super 10) served as scions. The statistical design followed was a CRD with five replications. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in all the parameters studied. The maximum number of days to seed germination (24.00 days) was recorded in Solanum torvum L., while tomato variety Arka Vikas (3.59), hybrid Sungro 85 (3.21), brinjal variety Melavanki Local (4.27), and hybrid Mahy Super 10 (3.95) germinated in fewer days. The optimum seedling girth (4.17 mm) was observed in Solanum torvum L. and Solanum macrocarpon L. (3.30 mm) at 45 DAS, while, it was highest at 30 DAS was observed in Solanum tuberosum L. (4.27 mm). The highest graft success percentage was observed in tomato (92.50%) and brinjal (96.25%) grafted onto Solanum torvum L. at 45 DAS and in tomato (87.50%) and brinjal (67.50%) at 30 DAS.