Grafting Using Rootstocks with Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum Against Meloidogyne incognita in Tomato Production

Abstract

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne spp.) and Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt, are major soilborne pathogens in U.S. tomato production. Methyl bromide has been used for decades to effectively manage RKN but its phase-out and the high cost of other effective fumigants such as 1,3-dichloropropene has resulted in a need to develop sustainable alternatives. Many of the commercially popular varieties used by the tomato industry do not have resistance to RKNs and R. solanacearum. Recent studies worldwide have shown the potential for grafting using resistant rootstocks as a sustainable and ecofriendly practice for R. solanacearum management. However, the effectiveness of R. solanacearum-resistant rootstocks on RKN management is not known. In this study, three commercially available R. solanacearum-resistant tomato rootstocks (‘RST-04-106-T’, ‘BHN 998’, and ‘BHN 1054’) were evaluated for resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in field tomato production in four field trials conducted for two consecutive years in two geographical locations: Florida and Virginia. Grafting rootstocks onto ‘BHN 602’ a tomato scion susceptible to bacterial wilt and RKNs, significantly reduced root galling caused by RKNs in all four field trials and increased yield in two of the trials compared with the nongrafted treatment. This study demonstrates the potential of grafting for managing multiple soilborne pathogens using the same rootstocks.

Development, production, and quality of ‘Chonto’ type tomato grafted on cherry tomato introductions

“…Leonardi & Giuffrida (2006) grafted tomato hybrid Rita F1 on three commercial rootstocks and showed that one of the rootstocks excelled in yield compared with the others, which is consistent with our study. Also, Kunwar et al (2014), evaluating the technique of grafting in tomato, noted that the yield of ungrafted treatments considerably outweighed treatments with grafting, regardless of the method, which does not agree with the data obtained in this study, in which rootstock IAC391 showed no significant differences when compared with the ungrafted control. Likewise, Bernal et al (2016), who studied grafted string beans to improve performance in production, noted that one treatment obtained the best results for variable total yield per plant compared with other treatments, both grafted and ungrafted.…”

Effect of Tomato Rootstock on Hybrid and Heirloom Tomato Performance in a Midwest High Tunnel Production System

“…McAvoy et al (2012) found that plants grafted to 'RST-04-106-T' did have a lower disease incidence and higher yields in fields naturally infested with Ralstonia solanacearum when compared with nongrafted and self-grafted controls, but this trend was found in only 1 of the 2 years examined. Kunwar et al (2015) found that the use of 'RST-04-106-T' reduced the incidence of root gall in conditions where root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) were present, but this did not significantly increase yield over nongrafted controls. These two studies point out that, even in the presence of soil-borne disease, 'RST-04-106-T' may not be the best choice.…”

“…Research examining the rootstock 'RST-04-106-T' has been somewhat limited, and has largely focused on performance in conditions where disease is present (Kunwar et al, 2015;McAvoy et al, 2012). McAvoy et al (2012) found that plants grafted to 'RST-04-106-T' did have a lower disease incidence and higher yields in fields naturally infested with Ralstonia solanacearum when compared with nongrafted and self-grafted controls, but this trend was found in only 1 of the 2 years examined.…”

Characterization 3333 of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) accessions for resistance to phylotype I and phylotype II strains of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex under high temperatures

“…Tomato production in the tropics and subtropics, however, is severely affected by bacterial wilt disease, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum species complex ( RSSC ; Safni et al, ). The RSSC are soil‐borne bacteria which can attack >450 plant species in 50 families, including pepper, potato, tobacco, eggplant, ginger, banana and several other economically important crops (Hayward, ; Janse et al, ; Kunwar, Iriarte, et al, ; Kunwar, Paret, et al, ; Kunwar et al, ; Poussier et al, ). The pathogen exhibits wide phenotypic and genotypic variation and can survive for extended periods in irrigation water, soil and rhizosphere (Van Elsas et al, ; Van Elsas, Kastelein, Bries, & Overbeek, ).…”