Vegetable Grafting Training for Agricultural Professionals

Project Overview

ENC08-102
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2008: $61,837.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2011
Region: North Central
State: Missouri
Project Coordinator:
Dr. Sanjun Gu
Virginia State University

Annual Reports

Information Products

Commodities

  • Fruits: melons
  • Vegetables: cucurbits, tomatoes

Practices

  • Crop Production: grafting, greenhouses, high tunnels or hoop houses

    Abstract:

    Within the last three years, 44 grafting related presentations were delivered by the program coordinator. Over 34 grafting workshops were organized by the program coordinator and educators that received initial training. This project has reached to over 3016 farmers, master gardeners, extension educators and other agriculture professional. Among them, 445 are educators. Horticultural professionals in Missouri and some neighboring states now have a thorough understanding of the history and physiology of vegetable grafting; grafting techniques including rootstock and scion selection, various grafting methods, acclimation of grafts, and management of grafted transplants; grafting Robots; and the economics of vegetable grafting. Tomato grafting has been widely accepted by high tunnel vegetable growers. More than 75% farmers who participated grafting workshops have tried grafting tomato or other fruiting vegetables on their farm.

    Project objectives:

    The objective of the project was to offer a tow-day workshop on Solanum (tomato, pepper and eggplant) and Cucurbit (watermelon and cucumber) grafting. Over 50% Participating educators should offer similar training in their service area.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.