Tomato grafting on rootstock of Jilo, Cocona and Jurubeba

ABSTRACT Grafting has been considered an important tool to produce tomato in adverse environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop grafting protocols for tomato on rootstocks of Jilo, Cocona and Jurubeba. The work was carried out in a randomized block design, in a factorial scheme (3x2) + 1 with three grafting methods (slant-cut grafting, cleft grafting and splice grafting), combined with two graft ages and rootstocks (depending on the species), and the control. The rootstocks for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cv. Santa Clara were: 1) Jilo (S. gilo) cv. Comprido Grande Rio; 2) Cocona (S. sessiliflorum) and 3) Jurubeba (S. jamaicense). The methods were individually studied and the graft length (GL); chlorophyll ‘a’ and chlorophyll ‘b’ in pre and post-grafting; graft diameter (GD), pre-grafting and tissue union of the grafted individuals through the assignment of grades were evaluated. Seven days after grafting, evaluations of grafted plants were performed. It was possible to establish a grafting protocol for all the combinations. The rootstock of Cocona provided greater vigor to ‘Santa Clara’ tomato graft. The cleft grafting technique can be indicated as the most effective for tomato grafting on the studied Solanaceae species.