Grafting in the US: SCRI-USDA

Program Overview, Challenges and

Opportunities.

Frank J. Louws

Director NSF Center for IPM, Department of Plant Pathology

North Carolina State University

Raleigh NC USA 27695-7616. frank_louws@ncsu.edu

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Grafting in the US: SCRI-USDA Program

Overview, Challenges and Opportunities.

Outline:

I. Overview of the USDA funded

project

II. International Activities (Current)

III. Challenges and Opportunities for

Discussion

Symposium Objectives

•Summarize the current status and expected future

of grafting

•Increase understanding of challenges and

opportunities associated with preparing and using

grafted vegetable plants

•Strengthen and diversify partnerships required to

widen the application of vegetable grafting as

cornerstone technology

•Describe Team goals and approaches

Generation 1 – TACTIC SUBSTITUTION:

finding non-ozone depleting fumigant alternatives

Generation 2 – TACTIC DIVERSIFICATION:

finding non-fumigant tactics and focus on IPM

tactics

Generation 3

TACTIC DEVELOPMENT:

microbial ecology and farming

systems research

Generation 4 –

SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS

MB Alternatives research

Development of IPM programs

PRACTICE: Grafting of vegetable crops: Translating

international knowledge and experience and adapting it to

USA systems of production.

SCIENCE: Understanding the mechanisms –

e.g. population structure and dynamics of pathogens

e.g. host genetics and physiology

OUTCOMES HAVE: Direct and Indirect Benefits

The Practice can direct the Science and the Science can

inform the Practice

Practice

Science

Project Director(Frank Louws)

Executive Team

Project Coordinator (Dr. Olya Sydorovych)

CAP Advisory Team

Propagation &

distribution

Effective Use &

Management

Economic &

Social Metrics

Adoption,

Education &

Evaluation

Grafting Technologies

WG

(Kubota)

Decision Support Sys.

Grafting

methods

Propagatio

n methods

Propagatio

n GAP

Tom

ato

Cu

curb

its

Tomato Evaluation and Growing Systems WG (Freeman)

Rootstock

evaluation

Growing sys. optimization

Cucurbit Evaluation and

Growing Systems WG

(Hassell)

Rootstock

evaluation

Growing sys. optimization

Postharvest

Quality and

Health

Benefit WG

(Perkins)

Economics and

Social Analysis

WG

(Sydorovych)

Extension, Outreach and

Education WG (Kleinhenz)

Enterprise

economics

Social &

environ.

impacts

Grafting

website

On-farm

evaluation &

demonstration

Digitalprint media

products

Evaluation WG (Jayaratne)

Hands-on

workshop

Stakeholder

based

regional

education

programs

Working Group Leader Institutional Leader

Grafting

Technologies

Chieri Kubota The University of

Arizona

Tomato Systems Josh Freeman (formerly V-Tech)

Cucurbit Systems Richard Hassell Clemson University

Postharvest Quality Penny Perkins

Economic and

Social Analysis

Olya Sydorovich

Extension,

Outreach, Education

Matt Kleinhenz The Ohio State

University

Evaluation Dr. Jayaratne

Nancy Burelle

Erin Rosskopf

USDA-ARS Fort

Pierce FL

Xin Zhao Univ. of Florida

Frank Louws NC-State University

USDA SCRI CONTACTS

Goal: Is to be expansive and build a national to

international network of Universities, programs,

companies, growers and other stakeholders

e.g. other key University leaders:

Cary Rivard – Kansas State University

Carol Miles – Washington State University

Carl Sams – University of Tennessee

Gene Miyao – University of California

Etc…..

USDA SCRI CONTACTS

Partners – (Third Party Match)

53 private partners representing the global diversity

of the industry including:

•Multiple farmers throughout the US (OFR)

•Grower Associations

•Automation/Robotics companies

•Seed companies (especially rootstock seeds)

•Propagators/transplant growers

•Consultants & other Stakeholders

Expand or create profitable business opportunities

Practice

Science

Grafting Technology Membership –

Communication NetworkInvestigators

Univ. of AZ: Chieri Kubota (chair), Young Jun Son & Russell Tronstad

Clemson: Richard Hassell & Anthony P. (Tony) Keinath

University of Florida: Xin Zhao, John Schueller & Monica Ozores-Hampton

North Carolina State Univ.: Frank Louws & Olya Sydorovych

The Ohio State Univ.: Matt Kleinhenz & Sally Miller

Washington State Univ.: Carol Miles

Industry members

Jardin, Japan: Yukihiko Higuchi

IAM-BRAIN, Japan (with ISEKI): Keita Yoshinaga

ISO Group, The Netherlands: Wim van der El

Log House Plants, USA: Alice Doyle

Ontario Plants Propagation, Canada: Tim Vanderkooy

Plug Connection, USA: Tim Wada

RediPlants, USA: Bob Poklemba

Rocket Farms, USA: Marc Clark

Salus Tarim, Ltd., Turkey: Hande Saganak

Syngenta Seeds, USA: Dean G. Liere

Verdant Earth Technologies, USA: Myles Lewis

Grating Technology (propagation/distribution)

WG Goals and Objectives

GoalsTo reduce the costs of grafted seedlings

To improve the availability to US open-field producers

Objectives Problem-solving for grafting propagation

Research and evaluate new propagation and distribution methods

Development of decision support system for propagators to plan, design and optimize grafting propagation operations, logistics and supply chains

Good agricultural practices development on seed treatment and grafting hygiene

Cucurbit WG Membership –

Communication Network• Investigators

• Univ. of Florida: Xin Zhao, Steven Olson

• USDA/ARS HRL: Erin Rosskopf, Nancy Kokalis-Burelle

• Clemson Univ.: Richard Hassell, Anthony Keinath, Gilbert Miller

• NC State Univ.: Jonathan Schultheis, Allan Thornton, Chris Gunter, Penny

Perkins-Veazie

• The Ohio State Univ.: Matt Kleinhenz

• Industry members • Dean G. Liere, Syngenta, Full Count Plant Program

• Luther McLaughlin, Abbott & Cobb, Inc.

• John Schoenecker, Harris Moran Seed Company

• Pepe Gomez, Nunhems Seed Company

• National Watermelon Association

• Brent Jackson, Jackson Farming Co. Autryville NC

• Bradley O’Neal, Coosaw Farms, Fairfax, SC

Cucurbit Use and Management WG

Goals and Objectives

• Goals:

• To provide a grafted transplant to the final user that will meet or exceed the needs of the cucurbit industry

• Objectives:

• 1) Evaluate resistance of rootstocks and grafted seedlings to selected diseases of regional importance.

• 2) Develop horticultural practices to maximize the efficacy of grafted plants in conventional and organic cropping systems.

• 3) Determine if fruit quality parameters of cucurbits are enhanced by specific rootstock/scion combinations.

GOAL: To engage industry leaders to enhance the

exchange of ideas; discuss challenges and

opportunities; facilitate business relationships

2012 Florida

Conference

FUTURE OF THE PROJECT?

CURRENT: Funded 9/2011 to 8/2014 (with

Extension)

FUTURE:

•SCRI funding is in the current farm bill

•Appears to have high support

•May be a rapid turn-around if the farm bill

passes

•Competitive process

•Opportunity to become a formal third party

partner

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Introduction to the Conference and

Project Goals.

Outline:

I. Overview of the USDA funded

project

II. International Activities (Current)

III. Challenges and Opportunities

for Discussion

International Symposium on Vegetable Grafting

Viterbo, Italy, Oct 3-5 2011

http://www.vegetablegrafting.unitus.it/index.php/meetings-and-conferences/murcia.html

Athens 2012

How do you think we can link with the European programs?

http://www.grafting2014.com

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Introduction to the Conference and

Project Goals.

Outline:

I. Overview of the USDA funded

project

II. International Activities (Current)

III. Challenges and Opportunities

for Discussion

Diversity of Fruiting Vegetable Production Systems:

Conv. Organic Home

Garden

Field + ++ ++

Tunnel ++ +++ NA

Specialty

(heirloom)

++ +++ +++

e.g. Tomatoes

Where will grafting be most useful?

What are the core areas of research/extension?

Field Conv.

Disease +

Value Added

(yield; fruit quality)

++

Where will grafting be most useful?

What are the core areas of research/extension?

Major issues:

•Level of risk prior to harvest

•Unsure profitability in the industry

Nov 2012 Florida tomato farmers in fierce battle to stay profitable | Tampa Bay ...

www.tampabay.com/news/business/.../florida-tomato...in.../1260030

There is a time to

graft and a time

not to graft

METRIC: How do we measure adoption?

i.e. Is it possible to track rootstock seed sales?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Wilt

Incid

ence (

%)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Days after transplanting

FL47 Non-grafted

FL47 Self-grafted

CRA66

HI7998

BHN998

BHN1053

BHN1054

DP105

DP106

Shincheong Gang

Cheong Gang

Disease Progress Curves Jackson Co. 2012

LS

D (P

=0.0

5) fo

r final %

Wilt

Is it possible (and productive) to learn about the genetics

of the rootstock?

Efficiency of evaluation programs…

Clinton NC

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

RK

N G

allin

g I

nd

ex (

1-1

2)

Non

Self

Big Power

Beaufort

Maxifort

T-II

Root Knot NematodeMeloidogyne incognita race 1

Caveat: Effect of genome background on Mi gene expression….

Non-grafted 8357 D 1964 Y

Self-grafted 8751 D 1228 Y

Telone II 379 B 1260 Y

Big Power 77 A 40 Z

Beaufort 2680 C 2542 Y

Maxifort 3091 C 1251 Y

First Harvest Terminal Harvest

Root-knot nematode soil populations / 500 cc soil

LSD based on P = 0.01

RKN Populations

Rivard et al. 2010. Plant Disease 94:1015-1021.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Introduction to the Conference and

Project Goals.

Outline:

I. Overview of the USDA funded

project

II. International Activities (Current)

III. Challenges and Opportunities

for Discussion (BIOLOGICAL)

Grafting – A component of IPM

Over reliance on specific genes for host resistance:

New races

e.g. bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, root knot

nematodes.

Over reliance on rootstocks that confer “non-host”

resistance:

New Pathogens

e.g. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lagenariae on bottle

gourd rootstock (Lee and Oda, 2003; Sakata et al.

2007)

Over reliance on grafting in the absence of other IPM

tactics:

Re-emergence of minor pathogens. Colletotrichum

coccodes, Rhizoctonia (AG-4) and other pathogens

(Garibaldi et al. 2008; Minuto et al. 2008; Minuto et

al. 2007).

Grafting can double or triple your chances of

spreading seedborne and mechanically transmitted

pathogens (e.g.) Clavibacter, Acidovorax, viruses .

“ shifty enemies” Invasive species

“Know your enemy”

What is the impact of rootstock selection

on foliar disease incidence?

• Downy mildew incidence was decreased using Cucurbita

ficifolia rootstock (Gu et al. 2008).

• Cucumber grafted on a bloomless rootstock increased scion

incidence of target spot (Corynespora sp.) (Hasama et

al.1993)

• Powdery mildew and target leaf spot (Corynespora cassicola)

incidence in cucumber scions increased or decreased

depending on the rootstock used (Hasama et al. 1993; Sakata

et al. 2006)

• Rootstocks have been observed to increase or decrease the

incidence of (non soilborne) virus infection in the scion (Davis

et al. 2008; Sakata et al. 2008)

• Lagenaria rootstock conferred resistance to the carmine

spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Edelstein et al. 2000)

• Where will grafting be most useful?

• What are the core areas of research/extension?

• How do we measure adoption?

• Is it possible (and productive) to learn about the

genetics of the rootstock?

i.e. how do we enhance the private/public inter-

relationships?

• What is the next step for the Symposium?

• What is the next step for the project team and

partners?

• What is the next step for grafting in the USA?

Summary of Questions