Grafting tomato plants.

INTRODUCTIONGrafting is agronomically important because one can combine desirable aboveground characteristics (such as fruit size) and underground characteristics (such as resistance to soil-borne diseases). This protocol describes the simplest way of grafting tomato plants using "top wedge grafting" or "cleft grafting." Potatoes, eggplants, and tobacco plants are closely related to tomatoes, and they can be grafted onto each other as well. Although the grafting of vegetable crops is still rare, this technique has been useful in reducing infections caused by pathogens, increasing resistance to drought, and enhancing nutrient uptake.