An insight into dwarfing mechanism: contribution of scion-rootstock interactions toward fruit crop improvement

Grafting has been commonly practiced for many centuries in the cultivation of horticultural crops. The use of dwarfing rootstocks has enabled a high-density plantation to produce maximum yield. Rootstock regulates scion phenotype, including precocity, fruit size, yield, quality characteristics, and tolerance to various environmental stresses. This review summarizes the existing information on the influence of rootstocks on scion growth and dwarfing mechanisms induced by multiple factors, including hormone signaling, photosynthesis, mineral transport, water relations, anatomical characteristics, and genetic markers. It has been shown that the complex interactions between scion and rootstock can regulate plant development and its structure. This information will provide interesting insights for future research related to rootstock-mediated dwarfing mechanisms and accelerate the breeding progress of dwarfing rootstocks.