GRAFTING RAISES THE HEAVY METAL TOLERANCE OF CUCUMBER THROUGH LIMITING THE TRANSPORT OF COPPER TO THE SHOOT

Copper toxicity is a problem of both agricultural and environmental significance.
Grafting may represents an effective tool for controlling copper toxicity by limiting the transport of copper to the shoot.
A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine yield, growth, and mineral composition of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cv. ‘Akito’), either ungrafted or grafted onto the commercial rootstock ‘Shintoza’ (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne × Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) and cultured in nutrient film technique (NFT). Plants were supplied with nutrient solutions having three levels of Cu concentration [0.3 (control), 47, or 94 µM]. Significant depression of yield, and shoot biomass production in Cu treated cucumber plants were observed, and this effect varied as a function of Cu concentration in NFT solution.
At the two higher Cu concentrations (47 and 94 µM Cu), the percentage of yield, and shoot biomass weight reductions were significantly lower in grafted plants in comparison to those of the ungrafted plants.
In both grafted and ungrafted plants, roots of cucumber accumulated larger quantities of Cu than the above-ground parts, with higher values recorded in ungrafted than grafted plants.
For ungrafted plants Cu concentration especially at 94 µM Cu caused significant decrease in macronutrient leaf concentration especially for N and K compared to grafted plants.
The improved crop performance of grafted plants was attributed to their strong capacity to inhibit the Cu accumulation in the aerial parts and to maintain a better plant nutritional status.

International Symposium on Strategies Towards Sustainability of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climate

Y. Rouphael, G. Colla, M. Cardarelli, A. Salerno, E. Rea

Cucumis sativus L., rootstock, mineral composition

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.807.93