Disease-resistant tomato graft

In addition to worrying about the output, tomato farmers still watch out for other worries: the wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum , which is raging every year. But now it's different .

Grafted tomatoes are fruitful, fighting against disease - Photo: Q.THANH ( TTO )

A technological advance against tomato wilt-causing bacteria, owned by a research team at the Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, can help farmers feel more secure .

This pathogenic bacterium has a rapid spread rate, causing mass death. Dr. Ngo Quang Vinh - Head of Food Crop Research Department, Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology - also emphasized that this is the most living type of bacteria in the soil.

Not only that, when penetrating tomato stalks, Ralstonia solanacearum bacteria will spread, reproduce and quickly fill up the plant's vascular circuit, obstructing the conduits - the path of 'transporting' nutrients to the plants. . Therefore, when being invaded by Ralstonia solanacearum, the plants wilt quickly and lead to death within a short time afterwards.

According to the study of Prof. Pham Van Bien - Director of Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology and colleagues, the rate of dead plants caused by Ralstonia solanacearum bacteria is usually 20-30%, even severe infections. 100% harm.

What the world, in particular in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea ., can do to prevent bacterial wilt on tomato plants is to match this plant with an eggplant or a root Other types of tomatoes have good resistance to disease and resistance. Scientists believe that this is considered one of the best solutions that can help farmers resolve the worry of wilt disease on tomato plants. In Vietnam, Dr Vinh's research team also pursues this research path. It all started from the end of 2002 .

The research team said one of the first experiments to evaluate the ability to grow tomatoes by grafting and rootstock selection in Ho Chi Minh City was conducted on an area of ​​700m2 of land in Tan Phu Trung commune, district. Cu Chi. This team actively arranged experiments on tomato fields that were 100% dead due to wilt-causing bacteria.

The experiment used six types of coffee to make rootstocks: eggplant EG203, Mui Ne eggplant, Kalenda eggplant, East-West eggplant, tomato HW96 and ornamental coffee. And the grafted tops are local tomato varieties - Cu Chi. Another similar experiment was arranged in Lien Nghia town, Duc Trong district (Lam Dong) on ​​an area of ​​1,500m2, with tomato varieties suitable for conditions in this area.

When the experiment ended, the results showed that in Cu Chi (HCMC), the non-grafted tomato died 100% due to wilt bacterial disease. Meanwhile, grafted tomatoes with eggplant root EG203 have a mortality rate of 0%, Mui Ne eggplant 4.2%, eggplant Kalenda 6.2% and other pairs of miscarriages from 17.8 to 211, 5%.

After the positive results mentioned above, the research team implemented one more step: experimental demonstration planting. This step has 70 households growing grafted tomatoes on an area of ​​nearly 20 ha. A really good news for tomato farmers: the rate of tomatoes dying due to bacterial wilt of grafted area is only 0.5% compared to 38.5% of plants grown in tomato fields. grafting (control group). The yield was 54.6 tons / ha compared to 34.3 tons / ha of the control group, an increase of 59%.

For farmers, this is really a joy to enjoy a technological advance in cultivation, which brings great benefits.

According to Dr. Vinh, farmers who need to know the techniques of tomato grafting production for their production, 'the research team is willing to guide the implementation for free'.

QUOC THANH