Graft Compatibility of Scotch Bonnet （Capsicum chinense Jacq） with Selected Salt-Tolerant Solanaceous

In recent years, grafting to improve salt-tolerance of vegetables has been studied extensively. The rootstock species, Solanum melongena cv Black Beauty, Solanum lycopersicum cv Akash and Solanum nigrum (bitter gumma), reportedly salt-tolerant, were evaluated for their graft compatibility with Capsicum chinense cv Scotch Bonnet. Grafted and non-grafted plants were grown for three weeks under greenhouse conditions. Graft compatibility was determined by the regeneration of vascular bundles across the graft interface and vegetative growth parameters. The results showed that the highest survival percentage (100%) was obtained in the Scotch Bonnet/Black Beauty heterografts and the lowest (16%) was obtained in the Scotch Bonnet/bitter gumma heterografts. Vascular regeneration across the graft interface was seen in Scotch Bonnet autografts and heterografts with Black Beauty. Graft incompatibility observed in heterografts on Akash and bitter gumma rootstocks could be attributed to the presence of a necrotic layer at the graft interface. In conclusion, progressive scion growth and development and the regeneration of vascular bundles across the graft interface are effective in determining graft compatibility between Scotch Bonnet and selected solanceous species. This suggests that Scotch Bonnet can be cultivated under saline growing condition.