Producing and using millions of grafted vegetable plants for greenhouse and field production each year is common in Europe, Asia and, increasingly, Africa. In the U.S., the making and using of grafted vegetable plants – especially fresh market tomato and melon – for field and high tunnel production is under increasing scrutiny. In the U.S. and elsewhere, teams are working to develop the resources (material, information) that will help the industry to take full advantage of grafting technology and grafted plants.

One such University-USDA-industry team is supported by a grant from the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative (SCRI) program. The team includes members of six U.S. universities, the USDA and many companies and is coordinated by North Carolina State University. At the OARDC, the VPSL is testing various aspects of grafted plant preparation and the management of these plants in field and high tunnel systems, both conventional and organic. The performance of grafted and ungrafted plants under a range of conditions is evaluated using many criteria. Images of some of our research activity are shown here (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.199555970116072.46992.155936034478066&type=1). Watch this space and the VPSL Facebook for additional updates.