Distribution and Incidence of Tomato Bacterial Wilt Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in the Central Region of Togo

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetables in Togo. Unfortunately, tomato is susceptible to many diseases, among which bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum causes major yield losses. In this study, incidence of bacterial wilt and its distribution was evaluated in the central region of Togo, the major tomato-producing area in the country. Overall, 16 localities were surveyed in four prefectures. In each locality, three fields were visited, the incidence of the disease was recorded, and diseased samples were collected for laboratory investigation. The results showed that bacterial wilt occurred in all of the fields visited, indicating a field incidence of 100%, whereas the plant incidence ranged from 10.00 ± 00 to 43.33 ± 3.33%, with an average of 20.94 ± 1.77%. The antibody-based ImmunoStrip test was positive for R. solanacearum in 100% of the visited fields. From 144 samples collected from fields, 45 R. solanacearum isolates were isolated on modified selective medium from South Africa. These survey results show that tomato bacterial wilt is a real threat to tomato production in the central region of Togo.