Abstract: Taking the wild eggplant (Solanum torvum) as rootstock and the cultivated eggplant (S. melongena) cultivar ‘Xi’anlvqie’ as scion, this paper studied the growth and the physiological and biochemical indices of grafted and self-rooted eggplants under water stress. Soil water stress severely restricted the growth of grafted and self-rooted eggplants. In treatment CK (80%-85% of soil water content), the growth of grafted and self-rooted eggplants had no obvious difference; while in the treatments of light (50%-55%) and severe (35%-40%) water stress, the difference was quite significant. Under water stress, as compared with those of selfrooted eggplants, the plant height and stem diameter, the fresh weight and dry weight of aboveground parts and roots, and the leaf relative water content and chlorophyll content of grafted eggplants all had a significant increase, while the leaf relative conductivity and MDA had a significant decrease. Grafting increased the plant leaf soluble sugar and proline contents significantly. With the increase and the extending of water stress, the differences in the leaf SOD and POD activities between grafted and self-rooted eggplants became larger, reached a significant level. It was suggested that grafting could promote the eggplant growth and adjust the plant osmotic regulation substances contents and antioxidant enzymes activities to maintain the normal function of plant physiological metabolism and bring about stronger adaptability to moderate drought.

Key words: straw returning, medium and microelements, soil organic carbon mineralization, organic carbon sequestration.