Effect of grafting on the morphological parameters of pepper plant (Capsicum annuum L.) in greenhouse conditions

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the most popular and widely grown vegetable crop in Kosovo.
Climatic conditions contribute to an increase of biotic and abiotic stress that affects vegetative and generative plant development.
This study aimed to determine the effect of grafting on morphological parameters of the pepper plant, as a possible solution to these issues.
Following cultivars were used ‘ Vedrana’, ‘Kaptur’, ‘Ariadni’, ‘Gelby’ as scions and ‘Vital Paprika’, ‘6210’ and ‘SM Tant’ as rootstocks.
Non-grafted plants of cultivars ‘Vedrana’, ‘Ariadni’, ‘Kaptur’ and ‘Gelby’ were used as control.
The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse located in Godanc, Shtime municipality, Kosovo.
Plants were transplanted in May 2019. The following plant parameters have been monitored: plant height and plant canopy width, fruit mass, fruit length, fruit diameter and pericarp thickness.
Plant height was highly influenced by grafting for the combinations ‘Ariadni/SM Tant’ and ‘Gelby/6210’. The combinations ‘Kaptur/6210’, ‘Vedrana/6210’ were characterized by larger fruit diameter compared to other grafted combinations and the control.
Fruit mass, fruit length and fruit diameter as important yield parameters were observed to be influenced to certain extend by the grafting as well.
The difference for pericarp thickness was highly significant and influenced by rootstocks used.

VIII South-Eastern Europe Symposium on Vegetables and Potatoes

A. Kika Krasniqi, R. Agic, S. Kaciu

rootstock, plant height, fruit diameter, pepper, scion, grafting, fruit mass

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1320.50