Relative Response of Four Tomato Species to <i>Rotylenchulus reniformis</i> Infestation

Abstract

The reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) is among the most economically damaging plant pathogens in the United States. This nematode is mostly known for its damage to cotton but tomato is also well-within its vast host range that includes 314 plant species across 77 plant families. Nematode-resistant genotypes offer an effective, environmentally safe alternative to agro-chemicals for reniform nematode management. Resistance genes can be introgressed into cultivars through plant improvement efforts. Tomato is a diploid species which is more amenable to identification of resistance genes in contrast to cotton where cultivars are either tetraploid or hexaploid.This greenhouse study examined cultivated and wild Solanum species represented by 40 tomato accessions, to identify resistance and susceptibility responses to R. reniformis. Accessions were evaluated by using single plants in six replicates. Seeds were germinated in sterile soil and inoculated with mixed vermiform R. reniformis. After seven weeks, eggs and vermiform stages were extracted from the root system and counted. A susceptible control S. lycopersicum "Rutgers" (LA1090) was included. Seven putatively resistant tomato genotypes were identified. These genotypes in increasing order of resistance are S. chilense (LA1029), S. lycopersicum (LA1792), S. chilense (LA1932), S. peruvianum var. humifusum (LA0385) S. pimpinellifolium (LA2934), S. peruvianum f. glandulosum (LA1283) and S. pimpinellifolium (LA1579).