Keeping in mind the space constraint, agricultural scientists have developed a variety of plant that bears two fruits. Scientists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (ICAR-IIVR) have aptly named it as Brimato as this dual-grafted hybrid plant was prepared by grafting a tomato and brinjal.

Grafting is a process by which parts of a plant are joined together by means of tissue regeneration.

Scientists at ICAR-IIVR in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, feel that this technique used to develop brimato will be useful in urban and suburban areas in view of the space constraint. Described as an important breakthrough it will help in growing more vegetables in limited areas especially in the urban and semi-urban areas.

Besides being cost-effective, the method will increase the availability of vegetables.

Process of creating brimato

The Institute on its website states that the process of cultivating brimato took place by using brinjal seedlings that were 25 to 30 days old and tomato seedlings that were between 22 to 25 days old.

Following the process of grafting, the seedlings were placed under a controlled condition. In this for the initial five to seven days, the temperature, humidity and light were maintained at optimal levels. Once this was over, for the next five to seven days they were placed in partial shade.

The plants were taken to the field after a period of time varying between 15 to 18 days where they were provided adequate fertiliser. The scientists took care to remove the shoots which grew below the grafting point of the plants.

Once the plants were rooted, it took them between two months and 70 days for the brinjals and tomatoes to start fruiting. The parent or the original plants used for grafting were Kashi Sandesh — an enhanced hybrid variety of brinjal – and an improved variety of tomato, Kashi Aman. They were grafted into a brinjal rootstock called IC 111056.

Talking to The Print, ICAR-IIVR’s Director, Dr T.K. Behera said: “Brimato can be developed merely at a cost of Rs 10-11, and a month in duration. With an adaptation of this to a large commercial scale, which is being tried, the plant availability price will also reduce to Rs 4-5 per plant.”

Earlier, the IIVR scientists had successfully held a field demonstration of the plant “Pomato” – which yields both potato and tomato.

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