Test the feasibility of genetic information exchange such as fruit color and nutrient content between a commercial tomato cultivar and/or other vegetables and IALR’s tomato mutants using the grafting method. Tasks will include writing a research outline, conducting experiments, collecting experimental data, and performing other tasks as assigned.

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are the second most consumed vegetable crop in the world, and most economically important, with a total farm value of $2.4 billion in the U.S. Tomatoes contain 70 to 90 percent lycopene, which can prevent human cancer (i.e. prostate, breast) and cardiovascular disease. Tomatoes are also a good dietary source of β-carotene, which is a dietary precursor of vitamin A. The goal of this project is to test the feasibility of genetic information exchange such as fruit color and nutrient content between a commercial tomato cultivar and/or other vegetables and IALR’s tomato mutants using the grafting method. Tasks will include writing a research outline, conducting experiments, collecting experimental data, and performing other tasks as assigned.