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© 2005 Plant Management Network.

Accepted for publication 20 May 2005. Published 1 July 2005.

Performance of Grafted Tomato in Central Luzon, Philippines: A Case Study on the

Introduction of a New Technology Among Resource-limited Farmers

J. R. Burleigh, former Site Director, AVRDC Manila Peri-urban Project, IRRI, Philippines (currently, 54 Encantado Loop, Santa Fe,NM 87508, USA); L. L. Black, Program Director, AVRDC (currently, Seminis Seeds, 7202 Portage Road, DeForest, WI 53532, USA);

Lun G. Mateo, Professor, College of Agriculture, Central Luzon State University, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines; Dennis Cacho,

former Research Assistant, Central Luzon State University, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines; Clarita P. Aganon, Professor, College

of Agriculture, Central Luzon State University, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines; Tessie Boncato, Professor, Tarlac College of

Agriculture, Camiling, Philippines; Imelda A. Arida, former Research Assistant, Peri-urban vegetable project, Philippines; Christian

Ulrichs, Professor, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany; and Dolores R. Ledesma, Biometrician, AVRDC – The World Vegetable

Center, Shanhua, Taiwan, ROC

Corresponding author: J. R. Burleigh. [email protected]

Burleigh, J. R., Black, L. L., Mateo, L. G., Cacho, D., Aganon, C. P., Boncato, T., Arida, I. A., Ulrichs, C., and Ledesma, D. R. 2005.

Performance of grafted tomato in central Luzon, Philippines: A case study on the introduction of a new technology among

resource-limited farmers. Online. Crop Management doi:10.1094/CM-2005-0701-01-MG.

Abstract

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 40cm 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.

Introduction

Growing tomato in the hot, wet season (June to November) in SE Asia is difficult at best. Production is hampered by floods, heat,

and root diseases. Growers are well acquainted with these constraints and generally do not raise tomato during this season. The

outcome from reduced production is predictable and until recently, unavoidable. During this period, market prices for tomatoes

soar and urban poor are denied local access to an affordable source of nutrition. In response to this dilemma, methods to

overcome seasonality in tomato production by grafting tomato onto eggplant and tomato rootstocks have been developed

(2,9,11). In general, eggplant tolerates flooding, and lines (e.g., ‘EG203’) have been selected that are resistant to bacterial wilt

(caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) and root-knot nematode (caused by Meloidogyne incognita) and are immune to tomato

Fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici). Tomato yield is suppressed somewhat by grafting onto eggplant;

therefore it is warranted only if flooding and disease are risks. Resistant tomato rootstock (e.g., ‘H7996’), is used when bacterial

wilt (but not flooding) is a constraint. Generally, yields are not suppressed when tomato is grafted onto tomato, and in some

cases, growth and production may be enhanced.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Grafting technology may be combined with shelters to produce a "package" of technologies. Researchers in Taiwan (4) reported a

marketable yield of 34 tons/ha from tomato scions grafted onto eggplant grown under shelters during the hot, wet season, in

contrast to 13.9 tons/ha obtained from non-grafted tomato grown in the open. Raised beds combined with shelters have also

been shown to enhance production of grafted tomato (2,10); consequently, those features are part of the technology package.

The methodology to produce grafted seedlings and how to manage a crop of grafted tomato has been developed and published

(8). Collaborative work with growers in f lood-prone areas of the Philippines has suggested that these techniques may be useful for

resource-limited farmers in other SE Asian countries (6). However, documentation of the benefits of these practices is required.

Studies were conducted during a 5-year period on yield and production cost of grafted tomato grown during the hot, wet season

(June to November) in Central Luzon, Philippines. Our objectives were to: (i) determine the performance of grafted tomato in thatenvironment, (ii) select promising scions, (iii) determine the cost/benefit of screen shelters for production of grafted tomato, and

(iv) introduce farmers to grafted tomato culture.

Replicated Research Trials

Grafted and non-grafted tomato were grown in replicated trials under screen shelter and in open field on the campus of Central

Luzon State University (CLSU) Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, during the hot, wet season (June to November) from 1998 through 2002. From

1998 to 2001 experiments consisted of three factors (variety, graft, shelter) arranged in a randomized, complete block design with

three replications. There were two varieties, two graft treatments (grafted, non-grafted), and two shelter treatments (open field,

shelter). In 2002 the same three factors were arranged in a split, split plot design with shelter (N = 2) as main plots, variety (N = 4)

as subplots, and graft level (N = 2) as sub-subplots.

In separate but parallel trials conducted from 1999 to 2001 at CLSU we tested the performance of two rootstocks (eggplant EG203

and tomato H7996) grafted onto varieties ‘Apollo’ and ‘CLN5915’ and grown under shelter and in open field. In these trials factors

were two varieties, three rootstocks (EG203, H7996, and non-grafted), and two shelter treatments (shelter, open field) also

arranged in a randomized complete block with three replications.Grafted seedlings were prepared by using methods and facilities described by Black, et al. (8). Scions were grafted onto eggplant

EG203 and the bacterial wilt-resistant tomato, H7996. A local tomato variety, Apollo, served as the standard check and compared

to other varieties: FMTT22, CLN5915-206D (referred to as CLN5915), and the F1 hybrid ‘CHT501.’ Not all varieties were tested each

year. FMTT22 was used in 1998 but replaced in 1999 with CLN5915. In 2001 CHT501 replaced CLN5915 because it yielded about

30 tons/ha in contrast to 14 tons/ha by CLN5915 when grafted and transplanted under screen shelters in Taiwan (4). Plants were

inspected weekly for insect pests and foliar diseases and treated with appropriate pesticides as needed.

Prior to transplanting, 2.5-×-30-m beds, 30 to 40 cm high, were prepared and sheltered by structures designed to reduce the

impact of rain droplets on tomato f lowers. Shelters were constructed from ¾-inch galvanized iron (GI) pipe for vertical supports

with ½-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe for the arcs. Frames were partially covered by 32-mesh screen (Fig. 1). Generally, beds

were divided into 2.5 × 5 m plots and treated with a basal application of 10 tons/ha of organic matter (composted household

organic waste, chicken manure, and carabao manure) followed by 60-60-60 kg of NPK per ha, and then covered with plastic mulch.

A side dressing of N at 90 kg/ha was made at flowering and again after the first pick for a total of 180 kg/ha. Plants were spaced0.5 m between hills and 1 m between rows with two or three rows per bed

Figure 1. Rain shelter constructed from GIand PVC pipe on the campus of Central Luzon

State University, Philippines.

Figure 2. Bamboo rain shelter constructed byfarmers in Hagonoy, Central Luzon,

Philippines.



In all experiments, marketable fruit was harvested and weighed on 8 to 10 occasions about a week apart and total weight,

expressed as tons/ha, subjected to ANOVA in Systat 10 to determine treatment effects.

Non-replicated Demonstration Trials

Non-replicated demonstration trials were conducted on the experiment station of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Los Baños,

south of Manila from 1998 to 2002 and on five farm fields in southern Luzon. Tomato varieties CHT501, CLN5915, and CLN2026

were grafted onto eggplant EG203 and transplanted on raised beds as described above under screen shelters and in open field.

Local farmers gathered periodically during the growing season to observe and discuss the merits of grafting as a means to producetomato during the hot, wet season.

In 2002 and 2003, demonstration trials also were conducted on the campus of Tarlac College of Agriculture (TCA) and on farm

fields in Tarlac, Central Luzon. CHT501 was grafted onto eggplant EG203 and transplanted on raised beds under screen shelter

following the same planting procedure as described for replicated trials.

Commercial Trials

In the 2003 off-season (June to November), 39 farmers in the Central Luzon provinces of Bulacan, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija planted

grafted tomato as a commercial venture. All had previously received training in grafted tomato technology. Farmers purchased

grafted seedlings of either CHT501 or CLN5915 at 2 to 5 Philippine Pesos (0.04 to 0.10 USD) per seedling depending on the source

of seedlings. All nine farmers in Tarlac purchased seedlings of CHT501, whereas in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, most received

CLN5915 because the number of CHT501 transplants was insufficient to supply all 30 growers. Materials to construct screenshelters were provided by provincial agriculture offices with the understanding that all monies advanced to farmers would be

repaid at the end of the season. This practice is common in the Philippines when new technologies are introduced to farmers.

Farmers were advised to transplant grafted plants in July so that fruit reached market during the October to December period

when prices per kg are highest (1). We interviewed all commercial growers to observe an d document the type of shelter erected

and cost of materials. Surveys were conducted weekly to record weight of marketable fruit picked and price received.

Prior to 2003, farmer-cooperators were provided grafted seedlings and encouraged to construct standard shelters of galvanized

pipe based on the rationale that sturdy structures would withstand severe storms and perhaps even typhoons better than

structures constructed from bamboo, the farmer preference. Nevertheless, in spite of solid arguments for investment in long-

term, sturdy structures, farmers uniformly chose to use bamboo (Figs. 2 and 3).

Net income among the 39 commercial growers in 2003 was determined by using actual costs for shelter materials amortized over

three years (effective life of screen and PVC pipe), cash cost for seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation, and labor, total weight of

marketable fruit harvested, and market price received. During this period, we documented that variety had little effect on price in

local markets. Marketable fruit from the standard variety, Apollo, and from the hybrid CHT501 usually sold for the same price.

Effect of Grafting

In six of eight replicated trials, tomato grafted onto eggplant EG203 yielded significantly more than non-grafted, across varieties

and shelter levels (Table 1). Mean yield across years of fresh marketable fruit from grafted plants was 12.38 tons/ha but only 5.47

for non-grafted plants. These values indicate a clear yield advantage from grafting and are similar to results from Taiwan (4).

Figure 3. Bamboo rain shelter constructed by

farmers in Tarlac, Central Luzon, Philippines.



Effect of Screen Shelter

Yield under screen shelter was significantly greater than in open fields across scions and graft levels when tomato was

transplanted in July, but not in September (Table 1). Rainfall in Central Luzon reaches a peak in August and diminishes

progressively from September to January (1). Consequently, shelters have their greatest impact on plant survival and fruit set

during July and August. July is the preferred month to transplant because fresh fruit reaches local markets during October to early

December when prices are highest (1) because there is no competition from standard production methods. By delaying

transplanting to September, shelters are redundant but fruit reaches markets in late December and January when productionfrom standard production methods is ample and prices are low.

Table 1. Effect of grafting onto eggplant ‘EG203’ rootstock and use of shelters on marketable tomato fruit yield (tons/ha) across

varieties; results from replicated trials at Central Luzon State University, Philippines.

x Mean yield across variety and shelter treatment

y

Mean yield across variety and grafting treatment zprobability that variation between means could occur by chance. A P value < 0.05 indicates that means are significantly different

at a probability of 5% according to Fisher’s F test.

Effect of Variety

The standard variety, Apollo, was superior to FMTT22 in 1998, the only year the two varieties were tested together (Table 2). In

five of six trials yields of Apollo and CLN5915 were not significantly different. In 2001 and 2002, the hybrid CHT501 yielded

significantly more than Apollo and more than CLN5915 in 2002, when the two varieties were contrasted.

Table 2. Effect of tomato variety on marketable fruit yield from plants grafted onto eggplant ‘EG203’ rootstock, and grown under

screen shelter in replicated trials over five years at Central Luzon State University, Philippines .



x Grafted onto eggplant ‘EGG203’ rootstock, tomato H7996 rootstock or NG, Non - Grafted.

y P1

probability that variation between means for EG203 vs. H7996 across varieties could occur by chance. A P value < 0.05

indicates that means are significantly different according to Fisher’s F test. z

P2 probability that variation between means for grafted vs. non-grafted across varieties and rootstocks could occur by chance. A P

value < 0.05 indicates that means are significantly different according to Fisher’s F test.

Combination of Variety and Shelter

By grafting Apollo onto eggplant EG203 rootstock, yield was augmented about 4 tons/ha over five years of trials in open field and

under shelter, whereas use of a shelter improved yield by about 2 tons/ha (Fig. 4). Similarly, grafting CLN5915 onto EG203

improved yield by about 3 tons/ha (Fig. 5). Grafted and non-grafted plants grown under shelter yielded about 3 tons/ha more than

did plants in the open field. In contrast to Apollo and CLN5915, CHT501 grafted onto EG203 yielded from 6 to 12 tons/ha more

than non-grafted (Fig. 6) and use of a shelter improved yield of CHT501 by 7 to 8 tons/ha. In a non-replicated trial with CHT501

grafting improved yield by 11 to 16 tons/ha and shelter improved yield by 5 to 10 tons/ha (Fig. 7).

Figure 4. Mean yield over 5 years of Apollo tomato, non-grafted and

grafted onto eggplant ‘EG203’ and grown in open field and under

screen shelter in Central Luzon, Philippines. Vertical bars show

standard deviation of means.



Figure 5. Mean yield over 3 years of the tomato variety CLN 5915,

non-grafted and grafted onto eggplant ‘EG203’ and grown in open

ield and under screen shelter in Central Luzon, Philippines. Vertical

bars show standard deviation of means.

Figure 6. Mean yield over 2 years of the tomato variety CHT501,non-grafted and grafted onto eggplant ‘EG203’ and grown in open

ield and under screen shelter in Central Luzon, Philippines.

Vertical bars show standard deviation of means.



Commercialization of Grafted Tomato

Among 39 farmers who raised grafted tomato in 2003, 13 showed a positive net income and 26 a negative income based on the

calculation, net income = cash sales – (shelter cost + seedling cost + cost of fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation and labor). Among

farmers with negative net income, mean shelter cost + seedling cost + inputs was 0.48USD/m2, but 0.41USD/m

2among those with

positive net income (Table 5). Farmers with positive net income had higher yields, sold their tomatoes at higher prices, and hadless incidence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) than did farmers with negative net income. Among the 13 profitable

growers, nine grew the high-yielding hybrid CHT501. The mean sale price was 0.44USD/kg. Among the 26 non-profitable growers,

23 grew the standard variety CLN5915 and received a mean market price of 0.37USD/kg. Market price was not related to variety,

but rather to timing of market access. Among profitable growers tomato was transplanted in June and July and fruit reached

markets in October and November when prices are highest. In contrast, among the 26 non-profitable growers nine transplanted in

August; consequently their fruit reached markets in late December and January when tomato from grafted fields competes with

tomato from non-grafted and market price is low.

The difference in TYLCV incidence between profitable and non-profitable growers probably is not related to variety as both

CLN5915 and CHT501 are susceptible (5,7).

Table 5. Mean values for net income, cost of shelter and seedlings, yield, price per kg, and % incidence of tomato yellow leaf curl

virus for 39 farmers of grafted tomato in provinces of Bulacan, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija; 26 of whom showed a negative net income

and 13 showed a positive net income during the hot, wet season 2003.

Figure 7. Yield of CHT501 in 2002 non-grafted and grafted onto

eggplant ‘EG203’ and grown in open field and under screen shelter

in Central Luzon, Philippines.



Minimum Yield to Achieve Profitability

Based on a total input cost of 0.41USD/m2

for shelters, grafted seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation, and labor, a farmer must

produce 10.25 tons/ha and receive a sale price of 0.40 USD/kg to cover costs. Clearly, those milestones were exceeded by the 13

growers who showed a profit because most used the hybrid variety CHT501, and marketed their tomato between October and

early December when prices were highest.

Implications for potential adopters

The implications for farmer-adopters of the grafting/shelter technology are clear: (i) use only high-yielding, heat-tolerant varieties

as scions, (ii) minimize construction cost of shelters while providing for durability, and (iii) time transplanting to have fruit reach

markets when prices are high. In Manila, markets prices climb during the hot, wet season and generally reach their zenith around

Christmas (1); immediately after, prices plummet. Attention to these three principles is necessary for the grafting technology to

succeed.

Acknowledgments

Work funded in part by BMZ, Project No. 7860.8-001.00; Contract No. 81014265

Literature Cited

1. Ali, M., and Porciuncula, F. 2001. Urban and peri-urban agriculture production in Metro Manila: Resources and opportunities for

vegetable production. AVRDC Tech. Bull. No. 26.

2. AVRDC. 1994. Overcoming flood-induced damage in tomatoes using a new grafting technique. Pages 319-327 in: AVRDC 1993

Progress Report. Asian Veg. Res. Dev. Center, Shanhua, Tainan, Taiwan.

3. AVRDC. 1999. Control of bacterial wilt in tomato by grafting. Pages 71-74 in: AVRDC Report 1998. Asian Veg. Res. Dev. Center,

Shanhua, Tainan, Taiwan.

4. AVRDC. 2002. Effects of rain shelter, grafting, and variety on yield of summer tomato. Pages 30-31 in: AVRDC Report 2001. Asian

Veg. Res. Dev. Center, Shanhua, Tainan, Taiwan.

5. AVRDC. 2003. Breeding of Solanaceous crops. Page 7 in: AVRDC Report 2002. Asian Veg. Res. Dev. Center Pub. No. 03-563.

Shanhua, Taiwan; AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center.

6. AVRDC. 2003. Hanoi-CLV peri-urban agriculture project. Pages 142-143 in: AVRDC Report 2002. Publication Number 03-563.

Shanhua, Taiwan: AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center.

7. AVRDC. 2003. Year-round vegetable production systems. Pages 57-71 in: AVRDC Report 2002. Publication Number 03-563.

Shanhua, Taiwan: AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center.

8. Black, L. L., Wu, D. L., Wang, J. F., Kalb, T., Abbass, D., and Chen, J. H. 2003. Grafting tomatoes for production in the hot-wetseason. AVRDC International Cooperator’s Guide Pub No. 03-551.

9. Cheng, Y. W., and Chua, S. E. 1976. The possible use of grafted tomato-brinjal plants for tomato production in lowland tropics.

Singapore J. Prim. Indust. 3:94-102.

10. Midmore, D. J., Roan, Y. C., and Wu, M. H. 1993. Management of moisture and heat stress for tomato and hot pepper

production in the tropics. In: 1993. Adaptation of food crops to temperature and water stress: Proceedings of an international

symposium, Taiwan, 13-18 August 1992. C. George Kuo, ed. Asian Veg. Res. Dev. Center Pub. No. 93-410.

11. Vuruskan, M. A., and Yanmaz, R. 1990. Effects of different grafting methods on the success of grafting and yield of

eggplant/tomato graft combination. Acta Hort. 287:405-409.

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