Screening of tomato genotypes for tomato leaf curl virus resistance

Abstract

Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) is the most devastating virus of tomato crop. ToLCV is transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in a persistent and circulative manner. For the management of this problem, hundred tomato varieties/ lines were screened for the source of resistance against tomato leaf curl virus disease (ToLCVD) in field trial because no viricide was available to combat the viral diseases and insect vectors had developed resistance against the insecticides. Varieties/ lines were evaluated on the basis of symptomology. Out of hundred 8, 20, 25, 19 and 28 genotypes were categorized as highly resistant, resistant, tolerant, susceptible and highly susceptible, respectively. 16 parents were screened during rainy season under field condition in which Solanum peruvianum and Pusa Rohini showed highly resistant and parents viz., IC-395457 and IC-395461 showed resistant disease reaction against ToLCV. Other parents were either susceptible or highly susceptible in respect of disease reaction. Out of forty eight F1s, 17 cross combinations were highly resistant whereas 10 cross combinations were resistant. 13 cross combinations were tolerant whereas, some susceptible and few of them were highly susceptible. Resistant genotypes (varieties/ lines) can be used in breeding programs as an eco-friendly management approach.