Abstract
Bacterial canker caused by the Gram-positive actinobacterium Clavibacter michiganensis is one of the most serious bacterial diseases of tomatoes, responsible for 10–100% yield losses worldwide. The pathogen can systemically colonize tomato vascular bundles, leading to wilting, cankers, bird’s eye lesions, and plant death. Bactericidal agents are insufficient for managing this disease, because the pathogen can rapidly migrate through the vascular system of plants and induce systemic symptoms. Therefore, the use of resistant cultivars is necessary for controlling this disease. We herein summarize the pathogenicity of C. michiganensis in tomato plants and the molecular basis of bacterial canker pathogenesis. Moreover, advances in the characterization of resistance to this pathogen in tomatoes are introduced, and the status of genetics-based research is described. Finally, we propose potential future research on tomato canker resistance. More specifically, there is a need for a thorough analysis of the host–pathogen interaction, the accelerated identification and annotation of resistance genes and molecular mechanisms, the diversification of resistance resources or exhibiting broad-spectrum disease resistance, and the production of novel and effective agents for control or prevention. This review provides researchers with the relevant information for breeding tomato cultivars resistant to bacterial cankers.
Highlights
Bacterial cankers of tomatoes is a systemic vascular disease caused by the Grampositive bacterial pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis (Cm) [1,2]
This review focuses on the current status of bacterial canker pathogenesis, the identification of resistant tomato germplasm, and the genetic basis of the resistance
We propose future research related to bacterial cankers of tomatoes and provide references potentially useful for identifying resistance genes and breeding bacterial canker-resistant tomatoes
Summary
Bacterial cankers of tomatoes is a systemic vascular disease caused by the Grampositive bacterial pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis (Cm) [1,2]. This disease was originally reported in the USA in 1909 [3], and it has been detected in more than 80 countries in America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Oceania, where it has severely decreased tomato production [4–7]. In China, bacterial cankers of tomatoes were first observed in 1954, and the causative pathogen was isolated and confirmed as Cm in 1985 [9]. This disease has been reported in most regions of China since [8]. We propose future research related to bacterial cankers of tomatoes and provide references potentially useful for identifying resistance genes and breeding bacterial canker-resistant tomatoes
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