Abstract

The main goal of this research was to evaluate the rootstock compatibility in terms of root development plant biomass, leaf gas exchange, and fruit setting. Three Capsicum accessions (1841, 1835, 162) with different level of Phytopthora capsici resistance and drought tolerance were evaluated as rootstocks on California Wonder (1823) as scion; a total of six rootstock-scion combination (PRCW5, PCWR6, PPCW7, PCWP8, PHCW9, PCWH10) were evaluated in conjunction with ungrafted plants control and grafted control plants. Root length, root diameter, root volume and total root area were analyzed in the end of experiment by using the WinRhizo-Pro image analysis system (Regent Instruments Inc., Quebec, Canada). Plant biomass was also evaluated at the end of experiments in terms of total fresh weight (TFW) and total dry weight (TDW). In leaf gas exchange photosynthetic rates (AN), stomatal conductance (gs), and internal CO2 (Ci) was measured. Also flowering dates and fruit set date were also registered weekly. The results showed significant differences between root volume and root length, with concomitant variations in foliar plant biomass. The rootstock did not affected significantly the scion gas exchange and flowering or fruit set, PRCW5 and PPCW7 rootstock-scion combinations were the most promising in term of plant biomass development.