Divergent Responses of Tomato Cultivars with Resistance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus as Infected by Meloidogyne javanica

Commercial tomatoes are usually complex F1 hybrids with multiple resistances genes from different wild Solanum species. The response of tomato cultivars with resistance to root-knot nematodes (RKN) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) as infected by Meloidogyne javanica was determined in a controlled environment and field conditions. Four treatments were tested, viz. tomato cultivars with (i) RKN resistance alone; (ii) combination of RKN and TYLCV resistance (RKN + TYLCV); (iii) TYLCV resistance alone; and (iv) control (susceptible to the nematode and virus). The RKN-resistant plants effectively suppressed nematode infection and reproduction both in a controlled environment and in field conditions. The RKN + TYLC-resistant plants were less effective (p < 0.001) than the RKN plants in a controlled environment, and their resistance levels were significantly reduced in the field. Nonetheless, the RKN + TYLCV plants supported lower (p < 0.001) nematode infection and reproduction than the susceptible control plants. The TYLCV-resistant plants reduced (p < 0.001) nematode infection and reproduction compared to the susceptible control in a controlled environment and in field conditions. The divergent response of tomato cultivars with resistance to TYLCV via infection by M. javanica can be attributed to the genetic background of the cultivars.

Automated summary

Commercial tomatoes are complex hybrids with resistance genes from wild Solanum species. The response of tomato cultivars with resistance to root-knot nematodes (RKN) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) to infection by Meloidogyne javanica was studied. Different combinations of resistance genes were tested, and the results showed that RKN-resistant plants effectively suppressed nematode infection and reproduction. However, the RKN + TYLCV plants were less effective in controlling nematode infection, and their resistance levels were reduced in the field. TYLCV-resistant plants also showed reduced nematode infection and reproduction.