This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project proposes to develop grafted tomato transplants for greenhouse and field applications in the USA. Genetic-based sources of resistance to soil-borne pathogens and pests are currently being used as the rootstocks for grafted tomatoes in Southern Europe, Asia and Australia. In these countries, vegetable production is being impacted by the elimination of methyl bromide. Biological control strategies, such as grafting, will have increasing value in the USA as disease profiles and chemical pesticide regulations change. This research will demonstrate the production of high quality greenhouse bench grafts using rootstocks with disease resistance. The commercial applications of this project are in the field of agriculture.
