Study of some physiological changes during the combined effects of TYLCV and drought stresses in a local tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotype

Abstract

Global warming and drought, which are considered the main problems of our time, seriously damage the rural economy. Long-term drought manifests itself prominently in plant-pathogen relationships. The Vatan genotype infected with the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) showed tolerance to drought. Complex host-pathogen interactions are the basis of tomato plant response to combined biotic and abiotic stresses. According to the experiments, the tomato plant infected with TYLCV saves the plant from being destroyed by the pathogen during extreme drought, which helps to prevent crop loss. The amount of dry biomass in the leaves of the tomato plant increased during virus infection. The rate of RWC decreased in TYLCV-infected leaves. The content of photosynthetic pigments leads to a decrease in stressed tomatoes. Considering these, crop loss can be prevented by using plants resistant to TYLCV in seasons of water deficit, which is very important from an economic point of view. Keywords: Solanum lycopersicum L., drought, tomato yellow leaf curl virus, Bemisia tabaci, host plant-virus interaction, combined stress