EFFECT OF GRAFTING ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) GROWN UNDER OPEN FIELD CONDITIONS

The aim of the study, determining of grafting could improve the agronomic behaviour of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), an open field experiment was carried out to determine growth, yield and fruit quality of long type pepper hybrid cultivar (Efil). As a scion plant material was used Efil F1 and rootstock Guclu F1. Efil/Efil (Scion/Scion), Efil/Guclu (Scion/Rootstock) and non-grafted Efil (Sicon) were used as the grafted combination. According to experiment, grafted plants were taller than control (non-grafted). Total yield, fruit number, fruit flesh firmness, fruit weight and stem diameter were influenced by rootstock and grafting. Grafted pepper produced 16% more yield than control plants for 'Efil/Guclu'. A similar trend was also observed on 'Efil/Efil'. The lowest yield recorded on Efil (non-grafted)