Graft Angle and Its Relationship to Tomato Plant Survival

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Michael G. Bausher USDA-ARS, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945

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Abstract

Growing transplants that can withstand the rigors of open-field production is imperative for the successful adoption of grafting in large-scale commercial fields and especially for those who seek to adopt this technology as an alternative to soil fumigation. This study examines the relationship of tensile strength to graft angle and plant survival. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings of ‘FL-47’ and ‘Rutgers’ were used as scions on ‘Roma’ rootstock under greenhouse and healing chamber conditions. Scions were grafted at angles of 20°, 45°, and 70°. After a period of 10 days, the plants were severed near ground level and subjected to pull force analysis. Pull force of the graft increased significantly with the increased graft angle. Pull force between the 20° vs. 70° angles increased significantly as well as those of 45° vs. 70° grafts (P ≤ 0.001). Increase in graft angle resulted in greater survival of grafted plants from 79% (20°), 81% (45°), and 92% (70°). Fifteen commercial rootstocks grafted at 70° had survival percentage rates between 97% and 100%. These studies demonstrate that the angle can significantly impact graft integrity and plant survival.

Growing vegetable plants for open-field production requires a plant that can withstand environmental challenges such as heavy rains, wind, and stressful temperatures. Obviously, the strength of the graft union is very important to the survival of the young grafted plant. Plants placed in the field as seedlings are dependent on the ability to survive the first week in the soil and establish an anchoring root system that can absorb water and nutrients. Open-field production of fresh-market tomatoes is reliant on transplants that are produced as plugs. As a result of the expense of growing these seedlings and the goal of hitting markets at prescribed times, growers contract with transplant producers to produce plants throughout the growing season. Plant losses during grafted transplant production can occur as a result of disease, environmental conditions, and mechanical damage. This process requires precise scheduling and weather can delay planting dates. Varieties are selected for horticultural characteristics that coincide with disease and market demand. Although aggressive breeding practices are being adopted to include all the desired resistance and horticultural characteristics in one package, it is a difficult task as a result of linkage drag (Scott and Gardner, 2007). In addition, the decreased use of methyl bromide has forced growers to use alternatives such as grafted plants to manage soilborne pests and pathogens.

During the process of grafting, the scion can be selected for horticultural characteristics such as fruit quality, yield, and disease resistance. Also, rootstocks can be selected for soilborne disease, nematode resistance, and root vigor, all found in open-field conditions. The term open field means plants exposed to the natural environment with no protective shelter. Growing tomatoes in the southern United States often means plants must tolerate increased wind velocity and heavy rain events that can damage young plants. Also, open-field fresh tomatoes may be grown on plastic mulch, which can raise soil temperatures that may increase plant stress. Most of the information published thus far is related to plants grown under sheltered conditions (Kubota et al., 2008; Louws et al., 2010) and focuses on the viability of the technology. Limited literature addresses the reasons for choosing one grafting technique over another. Grafted plants used in open-field production require a grafting technique that can efficiently produce large quantities of plants that can survive in exposed fields. Little is known about the effect of grafting techniques on the physical attributes of the tomato seedling and plant survival or graft union integrity (Lee et al., 2010; Oda et al., 1994). The objectives of the study are to explore the effects of graft angle on plant survivability and graft union integrity.

Materials and Methods

Plant material and growing conditions.

All experiments were conducted in greenhouses at the USDA-ARS Horticultural Research Laboratory facility, Fort Pierce, FL (lat. 27.41° N, long. 80.35° W) and nearby fields during 2010–11. All grafting experiments were carried out on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) or interspecific rootstocks. Plants were seeded in rigid plastic plug trays with a cell volume of 27 mL and tray density of 242 plants. The planting media consisted of Premier Organic mixture (Premier Horticulture, Quakertown, PA). Both the rootstock and scion seed were planted on the same date and germinated under greenhouse conditions. At 21 to 31 d after sowing, the plants were grafted manually using the splice grafting technique (Oda, 1999) and held in place by silicon grafting clips (Bato Plastics, The Netherlands). The scions and rootstocks were cut in a simultaneous manner by placing the rootstock with the roots intact alongside a severed scion piece to match stem widths. A single-edge razor blade (American Safety Razor, Cedar Knolls, NJ) is then drawn across the two stems at the appropriate angle and both stems are severed simultaneously. The appropriate angle of cutting each rootstock scion was maintained by using a drawn template constructed for each of the appropriate severing angles. The rootstock and scion were then joined with a grafting clip; gentle pressure on the rootstock and scion was used to ensure intimate contact between both cut surfaces. The grafts were accomplished in this manner at angles of 20°, 45°, and 70°. The finished grafted seedlings were then placed in a chamber to allow the plants to heal at conditions of 29 °C and 90% or greater humidity and light levels of ≈100 μmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic active radiation by cool white fluorescent light with illumination at 12 h per day. The plants were then allowed to heal for up to 7 d and placed in a greenhouse for ≈3 d before testing the strength of the graft unions using a pull force gauge. Each planted tray contained randomized blocks of the grafted plants for each graft angle.

Experiments.

Experimental Group 1 (Table 1) used ‘Rutgers’ as a scion and ‘Roma’ as a rootstock (Siegers Seed, Holland, MI). These experiments were carried out during the months of Jan. 2011, Feb. 2011, and Mar. 2011 and repeated three times during each time period using 100 plants per graft angle or 300 plants per repetition for a total of 900 plants. Experimental Group 2 used scion ‘FL-47’ with ‘Roma’ rootstock during Aug. 2011 and are listed in Table 2. A third experiment was carried out based on the results of Experimental Groups 1 and 2. The 70° angle was used to test the overall survival of commercial rootstocks placed in the field. The rootstocks chosen were all commercial F1 hybrids or self-grafted scions. In Experimental Group 3, ‘FL-91’ was grafted on 15 commercial rootstocks listed in Table 3.

Table 1.

Results of pull force in newtons (N) necessary to separate graft unions ‘Rutgers’ scion and ‘Roma’ rootstock at different times of the year in Experimental Group 1 with 20°, 45°, and 70° graft treatments.

Table 1.
Table 2.

Pull force values of plants in Experimental Group 2 using ‘FL-47’ as the scion and ‘Roma’ rootstock.

Table 2.
Table 3.

Survival percentage results of grafting ‘FL-91’.z

Table 3.

Pull force gauge.

Pull force measurements were performed using a Wagner Instruments digital pull force gauge (Greenwich, CT) using the grafted plants at different times at ≈10 d after grafting. In each case, surviving plants for each graft angle were severed ≈1 cm from the soil surface. The severed base was placed in a cam lock device to hold the plant in place until downward pressure was applied by manual force. At the point of graft union failure, the device registers the amount of force in newtons (N) necessary to separate the graft. The sampling was repeated for each graft angle at each of four dates over an eight-month period. In all, 12 pull force trials were recorded.

Environmental measurements.

In lieu of greenhouse temperature ranges, growing degree-days (GDDs) were calculated for each growing period using the formula (maximum T °C + minimum T °C)/2 to 10 °C (threshold T used) (McMaster and Wilhelm, 1997). The calculated GDDs are listed with the individual experiments. The calculated GDDs were not statistically different (P ≤ 0.667) for any of the growing periods listed.

Statistical methods.

Statistical analysis consisted of a number of methods depending on the data set. The Kruskal-Wallis data rank procedure, a non-parametric test, using Sigma Stat 3.5 (Systat Software, Inc., Richmond, CA), and the Dunn’s test for the pull force were used when the data normality test failed (Elliot, 2011; Kruskal and Wallis, 1952). If the pull force data set passed the normality test, a one-way analysis of variance was performed with mean separations using the Holms-Sidak test. Grafted plant survival was calculated using the Cochran-Armitage non-parametric test for trend (SAS 9.2.3, Cary, NC). The data for survival was binomial with “1” representing survival and “0” not. The experimental design is one factor at three levels (20°, 45°, and 70° angles) completely randomized with two response variables: pull force and plant survival.

Calculations of cut surface area.

The area of the ellipse made by the cut surface of the graft at different angles was calculated using the formula based on the area of a circle (π a*b) where a is the radius of the long side and b is the short side of the ellipse. The long side value was calculated using the adjacent angle of the cut and the width of the stem.

Results and Discussion

Graft angle had a significant effect based on pull force (PF) in all of the experiments (P ≤ 0.001) as shown in Table 1. There was no significant interaction between the individual replications within a scion combination and the data pooled. The 20o angle recorded the least resistance and 70o the highest. There was significant difference in the PF of the 20° vs. 70o for all the dates tested for ‘Rutgers’ Experimental Group 1. The same is true for the 20° vs. 45o and the 45° vs. 70o (P ≤ 0.001) over all experiments in Group 1. The highest values for all dates were found during Mar. 2011 where the difference in PF between the 20° and 70o angles was 2.7-fold. Clearly the increase in graft angle had a positive effect on PF. The overall performance of another scion, ‘FL-47’ (Experimental Group 2), produced similar results with PF differing significantly (P ≤ 0.001) between 20° and 45° in all but the second experiment and 20° to 70° grafts in all three experiments (Table 2). In this experimental group, again the 70o graft angle produced the greatest PF values of 9.94 N, 9.35 N, and 10.31 N for the three experiments, respectively, a 4-fold increase from the 20o graft in the third experiment.

The increased resistance in PF as the graft angle increases may be the result of a larger surface area in contact between the scion and rootstock. The surface area of the 20o graft was 5.22 mm2, the 45° cut was 6.94 mm2, and 14.55 mm2 for the 70° graft, respectively. As an example, the increase in surface area between the 45° and 70o graft is an increase of 210% between the two. The larger area may increase the amount of callus tissue formed in bridging the void and allow for cellular products to move from rootstock to scion increasing tensile strength of the graft union and may influence the ability of plants to withstand physical damage. One of the few studies that used tensile strength to determine graft compatibility–incompatibility was performed by Moore (1981, 1983) in a series of descriptive papers. He found the tensile strength of compatible Allegany stonecrop Hylotelephium telephoides (Michx.) H. Ohba (Sedum telephoides) grafts increased 2-fold for the first 2 d after grafting and 28-fold between the third and 11th day. Moore describes the regrowth of the cut cells as the “interdigitation” of callus cells, which is part of the process of wound healing, thus increasing the overall PF necessary to separate the graft (Moore and Walker, 1981). The increase in surface area from 45° to 70o was 2.10-fold that of the 45° angle. The pull force of the 70° to 20° graft is not directly proportional to the area of the graft union but the trend is greater adhesion strength with increased graft surface area. As shown in Table 2, the significant mean pull force increase was near 4-fold between the 20° and 70° graft angle using ‘FL-47’ as the scion.

Survival of the grafted plants is significantly correlated with the increase in graft angle by Cochran-Armitage test for trend (P ≤ 0.001). The survival rate was 79%, 81%, and 92% for the 20°, 45°, and 70° grafts overall the studies, respectively, as shown in Figure 1. Increases in survival rate are important because grafting is labor-intensive and losses resulting from graft failure can represent significant economic loss. In a series of experiments, 70° angle grafting was used and survival recorded for 15 different rootstocks or self-grafted rooted scions. As shown in Table 3, there was a high rate of survival with all of the rootstocks used with ‘FL-91’ as the scion. There was no difference in seedling survival rate for any of the rootstocks used with all the survival rates between 97% and 100%. Grafting at the 70° angle has an added advantage in that individuals using this technique find that positioning the scion and rootstock by this method requires less effort because the greater angle self-aligns in the grafting clip. This results in few misalignments and subsequent graft failure. In all the tests performed, graft failure was probably caused by the lack of cellular activity to seal the graft wounds as a result of misalignment. In most cases, grafting was performed by individuals without significant experience in grafting.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

Overall survival of grafts with ‘Rutgers’ and ‘FL-47’ as scions and ‘Roma’ rootstock by graft angle. zCochran-Armitage test for trend P < 0.001, non-parametric test.

Citation: HortScience horts 48, 1; 10.21273/HORTSCI.48.1.34

Summary and Conclusions

These data show that grafts made at 70° result in fewer graft failures and greater PF measurements of the finished grafts as a result of increased graft tensile strength. Survival rates were greater than 97% in commercial rootstocks including ‘Aloha’, ‘Anchor-T’, ‘BB’, ‘Big Power’, ‘Body’, ‘Camel’, ‘Cheong Gang’, ‘Imperial 643’, ‘Multifort’, ‘Maxifort’, ‘Vigostar 12’, ‘BHN 833’, H-7997, ‘FL-91’, and ‘Sebring’ when the 70° graft angle is used. The high survival rates for 70° grafted plants is economically beneficial in producing plants to meet demand and reducing replants in the field. The higher tensile strength has horticultural significance in that it improves the ability of plants to survive under adverse conditions during the first critical 2 weeks of planting when the plant is establishing itself in the field. Higher tensile is also necessary for commercial planting using mechanical planters in which the graft union can be subjected to adverse physical forces to avoid graft failure. This research finding can be used by commercial growers, small farmers, and homeowners using both conventional and organic practices to improve plant survival while simultaneously reducing plant cost.

Literature Cited

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  • Kubota, C., McClure, M.A., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Bausher, M.G. & Rosskopf, E.N. 2008 Vegetable grafting: History, use, and current technology status in North America HortScience 43 1664 1669

    • Search Google Scholar
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  • Lee, J., Kubota, C., Tsao, S.J., Bie, Z., Hoyos Echevarria, P., Morra, L. & Oda, M. 2010 Current status of vegetable grafting: Diffusion, grafting techniques, automation Scientia Horticulturae (Amsterdam) 127 93 105

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  • Louws, F.J., Rivard, C.L. & Kubota, C. 2010 Grafting fruiting vegetables to manage soilborne pathogens, foliar pathogens, arthropods and weeds Scientia Horticulturae (Amsterdam) 127 127 146

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  • McMaster, G.S. & Wilhelm, W.W. 1997 Growing degree-days: One equation, two interpretation Agr. For. Meteorol. 44 131 140

  • Moore, R. 1981 Graft compatibility–incompatibility in higher plants What’s New in Plant Physiol 12 13 26

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  • Moore, R. & Walker, D.B. 1981 Studies of vegetative compatibility–incompatibility in higher plants I. A structure study of a compatible autograft in Sedum telephiodes (Crassulaceae) Amer. J. Bot. 68 820 830

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  • Oda, M. 1999 Grafting of vegetables to improve greenhouse production, p. 1–11. Extension bulletin—Food & fertilizer technology center

  • Oda, M., Tsuji, K., Ichmura, K. & Sasaki, H. 1994 Factors affecting the survival of cucumber plants grafted on pumpkin plants by horizontal grafting at the hypocotyl level. Bulletin of the National Research Institute of Vegetables, Ornamental Plants and Tea. Series A: Vegetables and Ornamental Plants. p. 51–60

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  • Overall survival of grafts with ‘Rutgers’ and ‘FL-47’ as scions and ‘Roma’ rootstock by graft angle. zCochran-Armitage test for trend P < 0.001, non-parametric test.

  • Elliot, A.C. 2011 A SAS macro implementation of a multiple comparison post hoc test for a Kruskal-Wallis analysis Comput. Methods Programs Biomed. 102 75 80

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Kruskal, W. & Wallis, W.A. 1952 Use of ranks in one-criterion variance analysis J. Amer. Stat. Assoc. 47 583 621

  • Kubota, C., McClure, M.A., Kokalis-Burelle, N., Bausher, M.G. & Rosskopf, E.N. 2008 Vegetable grafting: History, use, and current technology status in North America HortScience 43 1664 1669

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lee, J., Kubota, C., Tsao, S.J., Bie, Z., Hoyos Echevarria, P., Morra, L. & Oda, M. 2010 Current status of vegetable grafting: Diffusion, grafting techniques, automation Scientia Horticulturae (Amsterdam) 127 93 105

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Louws, F.J., Rivard, C.L. & Kubota, C. 2010 Grafting fruiting vegetables to manage soilborne pathogens, foliar pathogens, arthropods and weeds Scientia Horticulturae (Amsterdam) 127 127 146

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • McMaster, G.S. & Wilhelm, W.W. 1997 Growing degree-days: One equation, two interpretation Agr. For. Meteorol. 44 131 140

  • Moore, R. 1981 Graft compatibility–incompatibility in higher plants What’s New in Plant Physiol 12 13 26

  • Moore, R. 1983 Studies of vegetative compatibility–incompatibility in higher plants. IV. The development of tensile strength in a compatible an incompatible graft Amer. J. Bot. 70 226 231

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Moore, R. & Walker, D.B. 1981 Studies of vegetative compatibility–incompatibility in higher plants I. A structure study of a compatible autograft in Sedum telephiodes (Crassulaceae) Amer. J. Bot. 68 820 830

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Oda, M. 1999 Grafting of vegetables to improve greenhouse production, p. 1–11. Extension bulletin—Food & fertilizer technology center

  • Oda, M., Tsuji, K., Ichmura, K. & Sasaki, H. 1994 Factors affecting the survival of cucumber plants grafted on pumpkin plants by horizontal grafting at the hypocotyl level. Bulletin of the National Research Institute of Vegetables, Ornamental Plants and Tea. Series A: Vegetables and Ornamental Plants. p. 51–60

  • Scott, J. & Gardner, R. 2007 Breeding for resistance to fungal pathogens, p. 421–456. In: MK, R. and A. Mattoo (eds.). Genetic improvement of solanaceous crops. Science Publishers, Enfield, NH

Michael G. Bausher USDA-ARS, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945

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Contributor Notes

Partial funding provided by USDA NIFA Grant 2011-51181-30963.

I thank various donors of seed listed in this article and members of the USHRL staff that assisted me in this work.

Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To whom reprint requests should be addressed; e-mail michael.bausher@ars.usda.gov.

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  • Overall survival of grafts with ‘Rutgers’ and ‘FL-47’ as scions and ‘Roma’ rootstock by graft angle. zCochran-Armitage test for trend P < 0.001, non-parametric test.

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