8 pages, via Online journal, The use of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grafting is gaining traction across the United States, but small-scale growers face the challenge of creating optimum postgrafting healing conditions. The practice of blocking light for a period of 2 to 4 days while maintaining high humidity is commonly recommended for healing grafted tomato transplants; however, research is exploring alternatives to this practice. The present study investigated a low-input healing method for grafted tomato transplants with a specific focus on light and the use of propagation heat mats to regulate substrate and healing chamber air temperatures during the 7-day healing process. We hypothesized that 4 days of light exclusion and the use of propagation heat mats would improve grafted tomato transplant survival and growth. ‘Cherokee Purple’ was used as the scion and ‘RST-04-106-T’ was used as the rootstock. The whole plot factor was heat [propagation mats set at 80 °F (heat) or no propagation mat (no heat)] and the subplot factor was light exclusion (0, 4, or 6 days of dark). The highest survival rate among treatments was 97% in 0 days of dark with no heat treatment; survival decreased to 84% in 4 and 6 days of dark with no heat treatments. The plant survival rate was 96% with 0 days of dark and heat treatment; however, the survival rates were 63% and 45% for the 4- and 6-day dark treatments, respectively. The scion stem diameter was largest for transplants grown in 0 days of dark, but there was no difference in stem diameter due to heat treatments. There were no differences among scion or rootstock biomasses due to heat or light treatments. These results demonstrate that propagation mats set at 80 °F to regulate the substrate temperature were detrimental to grafted transplant survival under extended periods of light exclusion. However, this finding creates the basis to explore lower levels of substrate temperature modification. Our work also indicates that light exclusion may not be necessary for healing grafted tomato plants regardless of root-zone temperature treatments. Future work should examine the interactions of various substrate and air temperatures under full light conditions and their effects on grafted tomato transplant survival and growth. This work contributes to the ongoing research of how to optimize low-input healing methods that may be readily adopted by small-scale tomato growers.
He, Duhua (author), Chidmi, Benaissa (author), and Zhou, Deyi (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2011-07-24
Published:
China
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 183 Document Number: D00075
Notes:
Paper prepared for presentation at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association 2011 AAEA & NAREA joint annual meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 24-26, 2011. Via AgEcon Search. 13 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 132 Document Number: C20085
Notes:
6 pages; from "Extending Extension; beyond traditional boundaries, methods and ways of thinking", APEN 2003 Forum, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, November 26-28, 2003
Retrieved June 21, 2006, Describes this film (winner of the Good Food Award) about challenges facing the self-proclaimed Asparagus Capital of the Nation in rural Michigan.
Clark, Andrea (author), Harvey, Mark. L. (author), Kane, Deborah (author), and Social Sciences National Technology Development Team, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
2004-12-28
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 164 Document Number: C27276
