Kumar, SanjeevChikkeri, Sachin S.2023-11-142023-11-142023-10-30Chikkeri, S. 2023. Graft Compatibility Studies for Resistance to Root-Knot Nematode in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Ph.D. Thesis, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu.37102https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810201142The present investigation entitled“Graft Compatibility Studies for Resistance to Root-Knot Nematode in Tomato (SolanumlycopersicumL.)” was carried out in four experiments conducted under field and laboratory conditions. The study on screening of wild and cultivated Solanum genotypes against root-knot nematode was accomplished in collaboration withAICRP Nematodes, SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha in three phases, namely, field survey, laboratory and screen house. Out of eleven wild and cultivated species of Solanum screened, wild Solanum species namely Solanumtorvum was found highly resistantto Meloidogyne incognita while Solanumxanthocarpum, S. indicum and S. khasianum werefound resistant.Punjab Raunak and SJCT-01 showed moderately resistant reaction.The sixgenotypes (highly resistant, resistant and moderately resistant) were usedfor graft compatibility studies as rootstocks. Eight genotype (varieties/hybrids) were evaluated for horticultural traits at the Experimental Research Farm-I of Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha.On the basis of mean performance,ArkaSamrat and ArkaRakshak recorded the highest yield, maximum number of flower cluster per plant, flower per cluster and fruits per cluster as well as number of primary branches per plant and were selected as scionsfor the graft compatibility studies. The graft compatibility study was conducted in polyhouse of Experimental Research Farm-II, Division of Vegetable Science, Chatha with two tomato scionsviz.,ArkaSamrat and ArkaRakshak grafted onto six different rootstocks.Graft compatibility studies revealed that highest percentage of grafting success (100%) was recorded in graft combination ArkaSamrat on SJCT 01, ArkaSamrat on Punjab Raunak and ArkaRakshak on Punjab Raunak with 3.33, 4.00 and 4.33 days taken for healing of graft union respectively.Comparative performance of 12 different graft combinations along with non-grafted checks was evaluated at Experimental Research Farm-I of Division of Vegetable Science.The rootstocks viz., SJCT 01, Punjab Raunak and Solanumtorvumhavesignificantly influenced plant height for both the scions.The graft combination,ArkaRakshak on SJCT 01 recorded highest yieldper plant (3.37 kg), earliest flowering (36.83 days)among graft combinations and maximum number of fruits per cluster (5.56).ArkaSamrat grafted on SJCT 01 resulted in highest plant height (143.51 cm) and maximum number of primary branches per plant (9.47). The highest average fruit weight (149.40 g) and equatorial diameter (6.18 cm) was recorded in ArkaSamrat on Solanumtorvum Swartz. The graft combination ArkaSamrat on PunjabRaunak Swartz observed maximum number of fruits per plant (46.67). When recorded for the trait yield per plant ArkaSamrat on Punjab Raunak (2.22 kg), ArkaSamrat on SJCT 01 (1.51 kg), ArkaSamrat on Solanumtorvum Swartz (1.46 kg) and ArkaRakshak on Punjab Raunak (1.33 kg) performed statistically superior to both the checks.Suitable rootstocks identified for tomato were SJCT 01, Solanumtorvum Swartz and Punjab Raunak.These results showed that grafting could be an advantageous alternative in tomato production under root-knot nematode infected soils and could lay a solid foundation for further research.EnglishThesis