News Agriculture

Plastic vs. Plants: Mulch method changes tomato’s gene activity

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

A suite of at least 10 genes in a tomato plant behaves differently depending on the farmer’s mulch-and-fertilizer routine, according to an unusual analysis.

MULCH MATTERS. Two fields of Sunbeam tomatoes planted at the same time and photographed on the same day. In a season with adequate rainfall, tomatoes mulched with black plastic and given standard fertilizer (above) developed more leaf diseases and aged faster than the same variety planted in mown vetch and given half the fertilizer (below).