Advanced grafting techniques for mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses in vegetable crops: breeding and biotechnological approaches

This review assesses the application of vegetable grafting and biotechnological methodologies for managing biotic and abiotic stresses in global agriculture. Combining rootstocks and scions through a process called vegetable grafting helps increase crop resistance to abiotic conditions like salinity and extreme heat, soil-borne illnesses like bacterial wilt and root-knot nematodes, and flooding. Originating in the 1920s with cucurbits, grafting has since been extended to solanaceous crops, including tomatoes and peppers. Grafting provides significant benefits, such as improved disease resistance, increased plant vigour, and enhanced yield by 27–50% and fruit quality. However, the rapid evolution of plant pathogens and the complexity of abiotic stress resistance traits pose challenges. The evolving pathogens threaten the effectiveness of rootstocks, and the breeding of new rootstocks is hindered by the intricate genetic and physiological factors involved. The lack of specific markers for physiological traits complicates the selection process. It also included the methodology and timeline of grafting, which operates at different times with specific climates. This review highlights the need for ongoing research and technological advancements to develop new rootstocks and optimize grafting techniques. It emphasizes how crucial breeding initiatives and the creation of genetic markers are to expediting rootstock selection and enhancing vegetable crops’ adaptability and yield under a range of environmental circumstances.