Resistance in Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum to the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) increases with plant age

Abstract

In this study genetic variation for resistance to the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) of four genotypes of tomato (L. esculentum) and two subspecies of L. hirsutum was investigated. Resistance was quantified by the whitefly life history components adult survival, oviposition rate, pre-adult survival and developmental period, measured on plants inoculated with whiteflies in clip-on cages.The largest differences between species were found when life history components were measured on adult plants of about four months old. On L. hirsutum f. glabratum whiteflies had the lowest adult survival, oviposition rate and pre-adult survival. On L. hirsutum these components were intermediate whereas on all L. esculentum genotypes they were highest. The variation between plants was low compared to the variation within plants. These results indicate that single plant tests can be used to determine accurately genetic variation between individual plants in a segregating population.

Novel resistance mechanisms of a wild tomato against the glasshouse whitefly

“…Due to its status as a crop plant of global importance, the cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum Linnaeus, has undergone extensive selection to enhance its desirable traits (Bas et al 1992). This selection process has potentially left the cultivated tomato bereft of the genetic variation required to allow it to cope with a range of environmental and biological stresses, including attack by T. vaporariorum (Sim et al 2011).…”

“…Work to elucidate the source of whitefly resistance in wild tomato species has also been attempted. Studies include comparing the strength of resistance to T. vaporariorum of wild accessions and commercial tomato species (Bas et al (1992); Lei et al (1999)) and comparing wild accessions with inter-specific hybrids of commercial and wild species (Rodríguez-López et al 2011). Other studies have looked to compare resistance in commercial tomato varieties to other T. vaporariorum host species (Lei et al 2001).…”

Resistance of tomato genotypes to the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (West.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

“…After five days, the number of eggs and number of surviving females were counted. In each genotype, the oviposition (OR) and adult survival rates (AS) were calculated according to Bas et al (1992):…”

“…In addition, some whiteflies appear to be resistant to many of the chemicals used. An alternative is the use of whitefly-resistant plants (Bas et al 1992, Nombela et al 2001. Resistance in some wild tomato relatives, such as Solanum peruvianum, S. habrochaites and S. pennellii has been described to the greenhouse whitefly (Romanow et al 1991, de Ponti & Mollema 1992, Bas et al 1992.…”

“…Attempts to introduce resistance to T. vaporariorum from S. habrochaites into cultivated tomato lines have been hampered by the putative polygenic inheritance of resistance (Bas et al 1992).…”