Performance of grafted tomato in Central Luzon, Philippines: a case study on the introduction of a new technology among resource-limited farmers

Performance of grafted tomato in Central Luzon, Philippines: a case study on the introduction of a new technology among resource-limited farmers

2005

REP.TM-1380

Tomato production during the hot, wet season (June to November) in lowland areas of Central Luzon, Philippines normally is avoided because the risk of crop failure is high. Flooding from monsoon rains, root diseases, and heat limit crop production. Grafting, bedding, and shelters have been suggested as methods to commercialize tomato production during this period. Our objectives were to: (i) determine the performance of tomato grafted onto heat- and disease-tolerant eggplant rootstocks in this environment, (ii) select promising varieties to be used as scions, (iii) determine the cost/benefit of screen shelters for production of grafted tomato, and (iv) introduce farmers to grafted tomato culture. Technicians were trained to construct durable screen growth shelters for farmers and to produce vigorous, grafted tomato seedlings. Grafted and non-grafted tomato were grown on beds raised 30 to 40 cm in either open fields or under screen (32 mesh) shelters in replicated trials during hot, wet seasons from 1998 to 2002. Fresh weight of marketable fruit from plants grafted onto eggplant 'EG203' was greater than weight from non-grafted plants in six of eight trials. In two of three trials, marketable fruit weight from plants grafted onto tomato 'H7996' was greater than weight from plants grafted onto eggplant EG203. In three of five trials, fruit weight from plants grown under shelter was greater than in open fields. Thirty-nine farmers produced grafted tomato commercially in 2003; thirteen showed a net, positive income while 26 did not. While these studies illustrated the risk of this technology, they also demonstrated that combinations of high-yielding scions and rootstocks, reduced construction costs, and timely planting and marketing can result in profitable tomato production during the hot rainy periods in the Philippines

July:1-9, CROP MANAGEMENT

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