Changing the genotypic properties of the cultivated crop can result in tremendous increase in the nutritional value of certain nutrients that are beneficial for humans. However, there have been examples of disproportional increase reaching up to 10–35 fold in some target phytochemicals through genetic selection, which is concerning because such high concentrations are toxic for humans (Stopper et al. 2005; Poiroux-Gonord et al. 2010). An alternative approach that avoids these undesirable ones can be facilitated by grafting. That is independent selection and usage of rootstock and scion traits. Kyriacou et al. (2017) provide a good review of the effects of grafting on fruit quality in vegetable crops, and the biological mechanisms implicated. Initially grafting was mainly used as crop protection against soilborne diseases and is widely used particularly for Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae crops. Grafting can also be used to alleviate abiotic stresses on vegetable crops, i.e. salinity, nutrient stress, water stress, organic pollutants and alkalinity (Savvas et al. 2010; Schwarz et al. 2010; Borgognone et al. 2013). Grafting of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a nice example of elevated nutrient content by using rootstocks. As these rootstocks can reduce the incidence of blossom-end-rot by increase in calcium uptake and calcium fruit content (Khah et al. 2006). In pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) there are examples of increase in antioxidant capacity, iron, β-carotene content and phenolic content (Chávez-Mendoza et al. 2013; Sánchez-torres et al. 2016). Note that the opposite can also be true, that is, grafting can reduce the nutritional value of crops. Especially when grafting enhances growth this can lead to a dilution effect as described in (§5.1.7).
References
Borgognone D, Colla G, Rouphael Y, Cardarelli M, Rea E, Schwarz D. 2013. Effect of nitrogen form and nutrient solution pH on growth and mineral composition of self-grafted and grafted tomatoes. Scientia Horticulturae 149: 61–69. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2012.02.012.
Chávez-Mendoza C, Sánchez E, Carvajal-Millán E, Munoz-Márquez E, Guevara-Aguilar A. 2013. Characterization of the nutraceutical quality and antioxidant activity in Bell pepper in response to grafting. Molecules 18: 15689–15703. DOI: 10.3390/molecules181215689.
Khah EM, Kakava E, Mavromatis A, Chachalis D, Goulas C. 2006. Effect of grafting on growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in greenhouse and open-field. Journal of Applied Horticulture 8: 3–7.
Kyriacou MC, Rouphael Y, Colla G, Zrenner R, Schwarz D. 2017. Vegetable Grafting: The Implications of a Growing Agronomic Imperative for Vegetable Fruit Quality and Nutritive Value. Frontiers in Plant Science 8: 1–23. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00741.
Poiroux-Gonord F, Bidel LPR, Fanciullino A-L, Gautier H, Lauri-Lopez F, Urban L. 2010. Health Benefits of Vitamins and Secondary Metabolites of Fruits and Vegetables and Prospects To Increase Their Concentrations by Agronomic Approaches. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 58: 12065–12082. DOI: 10.1021/jf1037745.
Sánchez-torres P, Raigón MD, Gammoudi N, Gisbert C. 2016. O riginal article Effects of grafting combinations on the nutritional composition of pepper fruit. 71: 249–256. DOI: 10.1051/fruits/2016014.
Savvas D, Colla G, Rouphael Y, Schwarz D. 2010. Amelioration of heavy metal and nutrient stress in fruit vegetables by grafting. Scientia Horticulturae 127: 156–161. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2010.09.011.
Schwarz D, Rouphael Y, Colla G, Venema JH. 2010. Grafting as a tool to improve tolerance of vegetables to abiotic stresses: Thermal stress, water stress and organic pollutants. Scientia Horticulturae 127: 162–171. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2010.09.016.
Stopper H, Schmitt E, Kobras K. 2005. Genotoxicity of phytoestrogens. Mutation Research - Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 574: 139–155. DOI: 10.1007/BF00646495.