Evaluation of tomato germplasm for resistance to geminiviruses in Sanarate, GT: September 2003

         Luis Mejia, Universidad de San Carlos, Project leader

Bacterial wilt becomes a problem on tomatoes.

A commercial field of H46, a new hybrid from Seminis Seed Co., was showing serve wilting about 30 days after transplanting.  The grower removed plants with symptoms and planted cucumbers. Sept. 2003.

Dr. Jay Scott from the University of Florida observes bacterial streaming from the vascular tissues of tomato plants collected in commercial field shown above.  This is a positive test for R. solanacearum, which can be used in the field.

Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, killed about 10% of the tomatoes in our experimental plot.  R. solanacearum was isolated from wilting plants by Amilcar Sanchez.  A new site has been selected for the December 2003 planting.  It is currently planted to maize.

[Back to Field Tests, September 03] [Breeding tomatoes for resistance to geminiviruses in Guatemala]