Wenjing Xu^1,2

1 Jiande Riyue Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., Jiande, 311600, Zhejiang, China
2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Genomics and Applied Biology, 2026, Vol. 17, No. 5   
Received: 30 Aug., 2026    Accepted: 08 Oct., 2026    Published: 22 Oct., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an economically important vegetable crop widely cultivated worldwide, but its productivity is often constrained by soil-borne diseases, continuous cropping problems, and environmental stresses. Grafting has emerged as an effective and sustainable horticultural technique to enhance plant growth, improve stress tolerance, and maintain stable yield under intensive production systems. This review summarizes the effects of grafting on eggplant growth and yield formation, with emphasis on the physiological mechanisms and practical applications of different grafting strategies. The influence of grafting on vegetative growth, including plant morphology, root system development, photosynthetic performance, and biomass accumulation, is discussed in detail. Grafted eggplants generally exhibit stronger root activity, improved nutrient uptake capacity, and enhanced resource utilization efficiency due to the functional advantages of selected rootstocks. In addition, grafting contributes to yield improvement by promoting flowering, fruit setting, fruit development, and maintaining favorable fruit quality characteristics. The role of grafting in enhancing resistance against soil-borne pathogens and abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, and temperature fluctuations, is also highlighted. A case study of grafted eggplant production under protected cultivation demonstrates that appropriate rootstock selection and integrated management practices can significantly improve plant growth performance, yield stability, and production sustainability. Despite these advantages, further research is required to optimize rootstock-scion combinations, clarify graft-induced physiological and molecular regulation mechanisms, and integrate grafting technology with precision agriculture systems. Overall, grafting represents a valuable approach for sustainable eggplant production by improving plant adaptability, productivity, and resilience under diverse cultivation environments.

Eggplant; Grafting technology; Rootstock; Growth performance; Yield improvement