Building The Better Tomato

Here's a report from Louisiana:

NATCHITOCHES- Students at Northwestern State University are attempting to build a better tomato by grafting disease resistant rootstock to the leafy tops of common heirloom varieties. The tomatoes are expected to be bigger, better and more abundant when harvested, according Millard Mangrum, instructor of biology, who is coordinating the project.

Grafting must take place when the plants are very small, according to Mangrum, who cultivated the plants from seeds for two weeks before supervising his students in the grafting process. Students carefully snipped the stems at a 45-degree angle and attached the scions, or leafy tops, of Creole tomato plants to Maxifort rootstock bases with 1.5 mm silicone clips. Maxifort is known to be resistant against nematodes, fungus and other pests.