Grafting for disease resistance in heirloom tomatoes - Page 1 |
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Heirloom tomato cultivars lack genetic disease resistance and are particularly sus-ceptible to epidemics in the field. Growers interested in this niche market, however, are not willing to give up the high- qual-ity fruit that they deliver. Grafting can be used to unite the soilborne disease resis-tance and enhanced vigor of hybrid to-mato cultivars with the high fruit quality of heirloom varieties. Grafting: An Old Technology with a New Technique Grafting vegetables to manage soilborne disease is a simple process. The below-ground portion of a plant— the root-stock— is chosen for its genetic ability to resist or tolerate soilborne disease. The above- ground portion of the plant— the scion— is chosen based on fruit quality. “ Japanese top- grafting” or “ tube graft-ing” is a new technique that is especially popular for tomato production in com-mercial greenhouses worldwide because the process is very fast and large numbers of grafted seedlings can be managed eas-ily throughout the healing process ( Figure 1). Each seedling is severed just above the cotyledon. The above- ground portion ( scion) of the heirloom variety is secured to the root system ( rootstock) of the dis-ease- resistant seedling. Once the grafted transplants heal, they can be planted in the field and managed according to the grower’s production system. Although vegetable grafting is rela-tively new, it relies on an old principle. Grafting Grafting has been used in the horticultural industry for woody species, such as apples and grapes, for centuries. The first use of vegetable grafting to reduce soilborne dis-ease occurred in the early 1900s to dimin-ish fusarium wilt on watermelons. More recently, this technique has been used in plant production systems when the ge-netic trait for disease resistance in a crop is closely linked to a negative quality, such as small fruit size. For example, grafting is often used to reduce bacterial wilt ( caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) in tomatoes. This disease complex is particularly dif-ficult to manage due to its wide range of hosts and its ability to persevere through long crop rotations. In addition, tomato cultivars that are resistant to bacterial wilt are typically not capable of producing large, marketable fruit. The worldwide use of grafting with resistant rootstock has significantly decreased bacterial wilt incidence while keeping fruit quality high, even in severely infested soils. Figure 1. Silicon tube- shaped clips are used for “ Japanese top grafting.” for Disease Resistance Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State Uni-versity and North Carolina A& T State University com-mit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A& T State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Grafting is a simple technique that growers can use to increase soilborne disease resistance in tomatoes without chemical fumigants or pesticides. in Heirloom Tomatoes
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Title | Grafting for disease resistance in heirloom tomatoes - Page 1 |
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Full Text | Heirloom tomato cultivars lack genetic disease resistance and are particularly sus-ceptible to epidemics in the field. Growers interested in this niche market, however, are not willing to give up the high- qual-ity fruit that they deliver. Grafting can be used to unite the soilborne disease resis-tance and enhanced vigor of hybrid to-mato cultivars with the high fruit quality of heirloom varieties. Grafting: An Old Technology with a New Technique Grafting vegetables to manage soilborne disease is a simple process. The below-ground portion of a plant— the root-stock— is chosen for its genetic ability to resist or tolerate soilborne disease. The above- ground portion of the plant— the scion— is chosen based on fruit quality. “ Japanese top- grafting” or “ tube graft-ing” is a new technique that is especially popular for tomato production in com-mercial greenhouses worldwide because the process is very fast and large numbers of grafted seedlings can be managed eas-ily throughout the healing process ( Figure 1). Each seedling is severed just above the cotyledon. The above- ground portion ( scion) of the heirloom variety is secured to the root system ( rootstock) of the dis-ease- resistant seedling. Once the grafted transplants heal, they can be planted in the field and managed according to the grower’s production system. Although vegetable grafting is rela-tively new, it relies on an old principle. Grafting Grafting has been used in the horticultural industry for woody species, such as apples and grapes, for centuries. The first use of vegetable grafting to reduce soilborne dis-ease occurred in the early 1900s to dimin-ish fusarium wilt on watermelons. More recently, this technique has been used in plant production systems when the ge-netic trait for disease resistance in a crop is closely linked to a negative quality, such as small fruit size. For example, grafting is often used to reduce bacterial wilt ( caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) in tomatoes. This disease complex is particularly dif-ficult to manage due to its wide range of hosts and its ability to persevere through long crop rotations. In addition, tomato cultivars that are resistant to bacterial wilt are typically not capable of producing large, marketable fruit. The worldwide use of grafting with resistant rootstock has significantly decreased bacterial wilt incidence while keeping fruit quality high, even in severely infested soils. Figure 1. Silicon tube- shaped clips are used for “ Japanese top grafting.” for Disease Resistance Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State Uni-versity and North Carolina A& T State University com-mit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A& T State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Grafting is a simple technique that growers can use to increase soilborne disease resistance in tomatoes without chemical fumigants or pesticides. in Heirloom Tomatoes |