Rootstock PE‐E‐391 Enhances Nutrient Uptake and Productivity of Tomato Under Protected Cultivation

This study evaluated the effects of the experimental rootstock PE‐E‐391 on nutrient extraction, partitioning to fruits, and the productivity of tomato plants grown under protected conditions. Considering the need to optimize input use and increase yield in intensive systems, the performance of PE‐E‐391 was compared to that of the commercial rootstock “Guardião” and nongrafted BRS Nagai plants. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment, using a randomized block design with seven replicates. Vegetative growth, biomass accumulation, nutrient extraction and export, as well as commercial fruit yield, were evaluated. Copper had the highest fruit export‐to‐total‐extraction ratio among micronutrients (>70%). Potassium had the greatest absolute export to fruits, accounting for 55% of total K extraction. The results demonstrated that plants grafted onto PE‐E‐391 exhibited greater biomass accumulation throughout the cycle, as well as higher nutrient extraction and productivity. PE‐E‐391 increased total nutrient extraction and fruit yield without markedly altering the proportional partitioning of nutrients to fruits.