horticulture question-tomato plant structure

[Stvrob]

I'm curious about something. If I were to root a tomato leaf (no growing point, just a leaf) Could I then graft a seedling onto the leaf stem? Or is there a basic principal of horticulture that would violate?

I have an hybrid indeterminate that has survived the winter and I'm thinking of harvesting parts for rootstock. but not sure if it would be a waste of time.

[Cole_Robbie]

I don't think you can grow roots from just a leaf.

[Stvrob]

Hmmm I think your right, just dug up a leaf that had been buried in potting mix the past week. It was bright green and healthy, and I asumed it had rooted, but nope.

So much for that idea then.

[paulgrow]

You can defineately start plants form leaf cuttings.
Don't know if it would work on a tomato.

[Redbaron]

Is it possible? Yes. Are you going to be able to do it? No.

What you could do without a laboratory is simply root suckers off the mother plant and then graft seedlings onto the rooted suckers. It is a bit tricky due to stem size but it is a lot easier than what you described.

[Stvrob]

Well. The reason I ask is that I have a bunch of heirloom plants that are way too big to put on rootstock seedlings. I think the cat tipped over the tray of celebrity seedlings that I was going to use (still haven't got to the bottom of that). Anyway, had to start over and now they will never catch up. But there are only a few growing points on the tomato still alive in the garden, not enough to harvest them for cuttings. That's what got me thinking about the leaves, which are about the right diameter.

[bcday]

A tomato leaf - I mean the entire compound leaf, not just one of the leaflets - will grow roots. It won't produce a plant, but I have put a leaf in a glass of water and roots did grow. I have no idea if your graft would work, but it might be fun to try it.