The Effect of Grafting on Morphological, Physiological and Molecular Changes Induced by Drought Stress in Cucumber

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stress factors affecting crop yields and qualities worldwide. One drought-sensitive plant cucumber, which has a high transpiration rate. Grafting recognized as promising approach to increasing tolerance stresses in cucumber. In this study, it aimed determine rootstock that will prevent negative changes some growth, physiological genetic parameters cucumber under drought mechanism system. conditions, leaf number values were found be 6 on average non-grafted plants between 6–13.16 grafted plants. Average fresh weight (7.56–9.84 g) obtained from higher than (5.7 g). Leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) 24.43 37.83–55.36 conditions. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration also decreased 5.66 3.23–4.36 It was determined genomic template stability (GTS) rate 64.1% treatment group. DNA polymorphisms detected by ISSR (inter simple sequence repeat) can used biomarker system for detection genotoxic effects stresses, such drought. These findings suggest grafting with drought-resistant rootstocks may improve genotypes.