[Responses of grafted eggplant seedling roots to low temperature stress]

The study on the changes of physiological and biochemical properties of grafted eggplant seedling roots under low temperature stress and the relationships between these changes and cold tolerance showed that at the initial stage of treating with 10 degrees C (daytime) /3 degrees C (night), eggplant seedling roots were most impressible to low temperature, with the MDA content, chilling injury index, POD activity, proline content and soluble protein content increased significantly, and root respiration rate, SOD activity and CAT activity decreased rapidly. With the extending of low temperature stress, root respiration rate and osmotic adjustment reduced continually, while chilling injury index increased. After 3 days recovery, the respiration rate, osmotic adjustment and SOD activity were increased. Among the test materials, T2 (with Hiranasu as rootstock) had the best recovery capability, followed by T1 (with Taibyo as rootstock) and CK (Jinong 2000). Grafting with stronger cold tolerance rootstock could improve eggplant root activity, and thus, its cold resistance markedly.