Phenotypic evaluation and utilization of tomato germplasm resistance for ToLCV and its vector Bemisia tabaci under natural condition

Abstract

During May-June 2019, about 50 genotypes of tomato along with susceptible check, Arka Vikas were screened for resistance against the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci and the begomovirus Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) in a Randomized Block Design with two replications having a plot size of 5×4 m at Linga nayakan pati, Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai district. The population of whitefly was recorded on tomato at weekly interval from appearance of the whiteflies. The infestation found to be more at earlier weeks thereafter the population declined abruptly. The average minimum (0.24/plant) and maximum (3.41/plant) whitefly population during crop season was observed on EC-520078 and EC-165700. According to the mean of whitefly population the highest resistance was found in EC-520078 followed by EC-631364, EC-315477 and EC-620389. Among all the accessions observed for ToLCV resistance, the accession EC-520078 recorded only 7.88% disease incidence and found statistically significant as compared to other accessions while the maximum disease incidence was observed in EC-620372 (94.25%).