The influence of grafting on crops’ photosynthetic performance

•The effect of grafting over photosynthesis in different species was evaluated.•There was no impact of self-grafting on photosynthetic traits.•Differences in photosynthetic traits depended on the rootstock genotype.•Grafting has the capability to increase the intrinsic water-use efficiency.•Rootstocks had different mechanisms to reduce abiotic stress effects over. Photosynthesis.