Department of Horticulture 

College of Agriculture 
CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER 4 – PHYSIOLOGICAL MANIPULATIONS IN VEGETABLE CROPS

Written Activity

HORTI 240 (APPLIED VEGETABLE CROPS PHYSIOLOGY)

2nd Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022

Prepared by: 

CARL ACE R. PARILLA

Submitted to: 

RAUL E. MARGATE 

APRIL 2022
Questions
1. Discuss what are the important shoot architecture attributes of tomato varieties used in open field
production of processing tomatoes compared with tomato varieties utilized to produce table tomatoes
in greenhouses. [10 points]

Tomato varieties are divided into two general groups based on their shoot architecture and pattern of growth –
determinate and indeterminate.

Determinate, or self-topping, varieties have short- to medium-length vines. Plants are heavily branched and do
not make continuous growth. Rather than having continuous production of leaves and flower clusters, every
branch ends with a flower cluster. Determinate varieties often are early and have a short but concentrated
production season. These plants are staked or caged but are not adapted to trellising. Determinate varieties
are not heavily pruned, regardless of the support system, because most of the fruit is produced on the
branches.

Indeterminate tomato cultivars are taller plants that grow and produce fruit continually along the stems and do
not stop producing vegetation once the blooms appear. Indeterminate tomato cultivars grow indefinitely taller
and never set terminal flower clusters, only lateral clusters. Indeterminate cultivars will need a training system
that may involve using high stakes (6–8 feet tall) and weave system or using a trellis and overhead cable
system.

Indeterminate hybrid cultivars are the traditional type of cultivar grown in greenhouses. These indeterminate
plants are managed using a trellis system including a top supporting cable and individual strings and clips to
support each plant. Once the plant top reaches the cable and after the bottom leaves are removed, the plants
are leaned and lowered. This process, known as leaning and lowering, is done several times (approximately
every two weeks) during the season.

For a determinate cultivar grown in open field and is grown two crops per year, the Florida stake and weave
system is very common.
 2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using grafting in vegetable production. [10 points]

Grafting comprises the uniting of two living plant parts so that they grow as a single plant. Grafting of vegetable
plants is a common practice in Japan, Korea, and several European countries; its main purpose is to control soil-
borne diseases and nematodes. In addition, grafted plants may have higher yields, improved tolerance to
environmental stresses such as high boron, soil salinity, and low soil temperatures.

The following points below discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using grafting in vegetable production.

ADVANTAGES

Resistance to Disease and Insect Pests

Damage by soil nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) can be controlled by grafting onto resistant rootstocks. For
example, tomato grafted on a resistant roostock was more resistant to nematodes than non-grafted tomato.
Grafting can transfer resistance against the carmine spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus) from Lagenaria
rootstocks to Cucurbita scions. Moreover, some rootstocks can render grafted plants resistant to some viruses.

Stress Tolerances

Grafted plants developed various mechanisms to avoid physiological damage caused by the excessive
accumulation of Cl- and Na+ in the leaves, including exclusion of Cl- and/or decrease in Cl- absorption by the
roots and the replacement or substitution of total K+ by total Na+ in the foliar parts. Grafted plants may also be
more tolerant to low root temperatures. This is derived from differences in membrane lipids. Grafting of plants
onto cold-tolerant rootstocks could lead to normal production of the crop and minimize the damage from sub-
optimal temperature.

Growth and Yields

The rootstock can also greatly influence plant growth, yield and fruit quality. In some cases, the rootstock’s
vigorous root system increases the efficiency of water and nutrient absorption; it may also serve as a source of
endogenous plant hormones, thus leading to increased yield in addition to controlling diseases.

DISADVANTAGES

Cost

The grafted plants are more expensive because of the costs of rootstock seeds, and the labor required for the
grafting and for raising the grafted seedlings.

Incompatibility

Poor rootstock-scion compatibility may result in blocking of the transport of photosynthates from scion to
rootstock. This can lead to yield reduction, poor fruit quality, and even plant collapse.

Fruit Quality

It is known that rootstocks can affect the quality of the fruit borne by the scion. For example, some Cucurbita
spp. rootstocks adversely affect the shape and taste of watermelon and melon fruits. In tomato, fruit quality
was slightly lowered by grafting, relative to those non-grafted plants. Moreover, physiological disorders can
appear in fruits from grafted plants, depending on the rootstock.