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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025)

Advancing cucurbit production: The role of grafting in enhancing yield and quality

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.6917
Submitted
26 December 2024
Published
23-07-2025 — Updated on 31-07-2025
Versions

Abstract

Grafting is an extensively adopted technique in horticulture to mitigate both biotic and abiotic stresses. It also has numerous advantages, including enhanced plant growth, productivity and resilience in cucurbitaceous vegetables. Cucurbitaceous crops are prone to various pests and diseases. Under these circumstances, grafting the technique contributes to the successful cultivation of cucurbitaceous vegetables by combating soil-borne diseases, optimizing resource utilization and enhancing water and nutrient absorption efficiency. Grafting involves the unification of two separate plant tissues to form a unique plant with desirable traits inherited from both parents. Successful grafting depends on compatibility, proper healing and integration of the vascular network between the source and sink. In cucurbits, grafting is frequently used to combine robust rootstocks with superior scions, resulting in increased yields, improved fruit quality and enhanced resistance to various stresses. Continuous exploration of grafting techniques, rootstock-scion interactions and molecular mechanisms promises to refine the effectiveness and applicability of grafting in cucurbit farming, thus advancing sustainable agricultural practices. This review delves into the mechanisms, applications and outcomes of grafting among the cucurbit family.

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