Research Article

Role of grafting on tomato production: Review

Tomato an important vegetable crop is a rich source of red pigment carotenoid, lycopene, vitamins and minerals. Its world production is reached to 182,256,458 tons in 2018 with productivity of 38.269 t ha-1 . The contribution of Ethiopia for World market in case of tomato is insignificant due to its low production of about 43,816 tons in 2018 with area coverage and productivity of 7089 ha and 6.18 t ha-1 respectively. The low production and productivity of tomato may be associated with abiotic and biotic factors. Grafting positively affects the life of plants in different ways. As it is indicated by various findings, grafted tomato plant was well performed both in growth and eventually in yield related parameters without significant quality reduction in most cases. To boost the production of tomato crop in the areas where there are different biotic and abiotic factors, using grafting technology with disease resistant and abiotic factors tolerant rootstock is the noble solution. Especially in Ethiopia, grafting which is almost new technology for the country can improve tomato production and productivity. To adopt such important technology in Ethiopia, it is necessary to conduct researches regarding tomato grafting. Furthermore, the rootstocks with desired characteristics should be identified within the species through researches