A method has been developed to produce brinjal, tomato and capsicum from one plant
a plant has been developed using grafting techniques that produces different kinds of brinjal, tomato and capsicum. Abdul Masfoor, an assistant horticulture officer in Hunsur taluk, Mysore, had been examining several pest-resistant plants. While studying various species of Solanaceae such as Solanum Torvum, Solanum Ferox, Solanum anguivi and Solanum viarum , he found that Solanum Torvum was sturdy and free from nematodal action. The plant has got a life span of five years. It is edible in nature and free from soil born viral diseases.
The grafting techniques of Masfoor are simple. Solanum Torvum shoots are chopped and shoots of desired Solanaceae (brinjal, tomato, and chilli) are grafted on to the individual stem. Some locally prepared organic compounds (Masfoor does not want to reveal the names) are applied on the grafted portions that are wrapped with polythene paper. He says that though grafting involves 'softwood' and 'budding' techniques, the former is preferred for Solanaceae . After one and half months of grafting each stem grows with the characteristics of individual plant. The plant started producing brinjals, tomatoes and capsicums after three months of grafting.
Vegetables grown with Solanaceae are delicious, bigger in size, rich in pulp and attractive in colour. A single plant of Solanaceae family yields about 60 kg of brinjals and 17 kg of tomatoes, whereas local variety yields only seven and four kg respectively. This plant yields up to a period of five years. Although Masoor was successful in grafting brinjal, tomato and capsicum plants with Solanaceae , he is skeptical about capsicum as its life span is very small and the shoots are weak. Several research organisations have advised Masfoor to get the method patented.
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