Pennellii Accession Research Articles

Genetic and functional traits limit the success of colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a tomato wild relative.

To understand whether domestication had an impact on susceptibility and responsiveness to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), we investigated two tomato cultivars ("M82" and "Moneymaker") and a panel of wild relatives including S. neorickii, S. habrochaites and S. pennellii encompassing the whole Lycopersicon clade. Most genotypes revealed good AM colonisation levels when inoculated with the AMF Funneliformis mosseae. By contrast, both S. pennellii accessions analysed showed a very low colonisation, but with normal arbuscule morphology, and a negative response in terms of root and shoot biomass. This behaviour was independent of fungal identity and environmental conditions. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed in S. pennellii the lack of genes identified within QTLs for AM colonisation, a limited transcriptional reprogramming upon mycorrhization and a differential regulation of strigolactones and AM-related genes compared to tomato. Donor plants experiments indicated that the AMF could represent a cost for S. pennellii: F. mosseae could extensively colonise the root only when it was part of a mycorrhizal network, but a higher mycorrhization led to a higher inhibition of plant growth. These results suggest that genetics and functional traits of S. pennellii are responsible for the limited extent of AMF colonisation.

Novel Sources of Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici Race 3 Among Solanum pennellii Accessions

Fusarium wilt of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), caused by fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), is one of the most important diseases in tomato production. Three races of the pathogen are described, and race-specific resistance genes have been applied in commercial tomato cultivars for controlling the disease. Race 3 (Fol3) threatens tomato production in many regions around the world, and novel resistance resources could expand the diversity and durability of Fol resistance. The wild tomato species, Solanum pennellii, is reported to harbor broad resistance to Fol and was the source of two known Fol3 resistance genes. In this study, we evaluated 42 S. pennellii accessions for resistance to each fusarium wilt race. F1 plants, developed from crossing each accession with the Fol3 susceptible line ‘Suncoast’, were evaluated for Fol3 resistance, and BC1F1 plants were screened to determine the likelihood that Fol3 resistance was based on a novel locus (loci). Nearly all accessions showed resistance to Fol3, and many accessions were resistant to all races. Evaluation of F1 plants indicated a dominant resistance effect to Fol3 from most accessions. Genetic analysis indicated 24 accessions are expected to contain one or more novel Fol3 resistance loci other than an allele near the I-3 locus. To investigate genetic structure of the S. pennellii accessions used in this study, we genotyped all 42 accessions using genotyping by sequencing. Approximately 20% of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci were heterozygous across accessions, likely due to the outcrossing nature of the species. Genetic structure analysis at 49,120 unique SNP loci across accessions identified small but obvious genetic differentiations.

Evaluation of anatomical and physiological traits of Solanum pennellii Cor. associated with plant yield in tomato plants under water-limited conditions

Although intensively studied, few works had looked into S. pennellii’s ability to cope with water-deficit conditions from a breeding point of view. In this study, we assessed potential traits of S. pennellii, that had previously been linked to high yields in other plant species, under long-term water-limited conditions and made a parallel with plant yield. For this purpose, the drought-resistant tomato genotypes IL 3–5 and IL 10–1, and the drought-sensitive IL 2–5 and IL 7–1 at seed level, together with both parents the S. pennellii accession LA 716 and the cultivar M82 were kept at 50 and 100% ASW throughout the growing season. Our findings confirm the superiority of LA 716 under water-limited conditions compared to the other S. lycopersicum genotypes in terms of plant water status maintenance. Percentual reduction on plant yield was higher in IL 3–5 and IL 10–1 than in M82 plants, indicating no correlation between drought resistance on germination and plant productive stages. A strong positive correlation was found between fruit yield and A, gs, and Ψleaf at 50% ASW, suggesting these traits as important selection criteria. LT and gmin, LA 716’s most promising traits, did not show a linear correlation with fruit yield under low water regimes. This study unravels traits behind tomato performance under water-limited conditions and should work as guidance for breeders aiming at developing drought-resistant tomato cultivars.

Unilateral incompatibility is linked to reduced pollen expression of a farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase.

Unilateral incompatibility is linked to reduced pollen expression of a farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase.

Cuticular hydrocarbons and sucrose esters as chemotaxonomic markers of wild and cultivated tomato species (Solanum section Lycopersicon)

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetables worldwide. Due to the limited genetic variability, wild related species are considered as potential gene pool for breeding cultivated plants with enriched genetic basis. Taxonomic relations between tomato species at the level of single groups and taxa still remain, however, not fully resolved. Hence, in addition to already reported classification based on the morphology of the plants and molecular markers, we proposed chemotaxonomic approach to unveil some aspects of tomato taxonomy.Cuticular hydrocarbons and surface sucrose esters (SEs) were used as chemotaxonomic markers. Classification based on the cuticular hydrocarbon profile was in good agreement with other taxonomic studies as long as between-species differences were taken into account. Clear separation of the common tomato and closely related species from the majority of S. pennellii accessions was obtained. In the same time, however, S. pennellii revealed broad variation: based on the results, three highly distinct types of these plants were proposed, among them one type was very similar to cultivated tomato and its relatives. Addition of SEs profiles to the dataset did not impair the classification, but clarified the position of S. pennellii. The results suggest possible hybrid origin of some of S. pennellii and wild S. lycopersicum accessions, and the approach proposed has a potential to identify such hybrid plant lines.

Differential and Synergistic Functionality of Acylsugars in Suppressing Oviposition by Insect Herbivores.

Acylsugars are secondary metabolites exuded from type IV glandular trichomes that provide broad-spectrum insect suppression for Solanum pennellii Correll, a wild relative of cultivated tomato. Acylsugars produced by different S. pennellii accessions vary by sugar moieties (glucose or sucrose) and fatty acid side chains (lengths and branching patterns). Our objective was to determine which acylsugar compositions more effectively suppressed oviposition of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Middle East—Asia Minor 1 Group), tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), and western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). We extracted and characterized acylsugars from four S. pennellii accessions with different compositions, as well as from an acylsugar-producing tomato breeding line. We also fractionated the acylsugars of one S. pennellii accession to examine the effects of its components. Effects of acylsugars on oviposition were evaluated by administering a range of doses to oviposition sites of adult whiteflies and thrips in non-choice and choice bioassays, respectively. The acylsugars from S. pennellii accessions and the tomato breeding line demonstrated differential functionality in their ability to alter the distribution of whitefly oviposition and suppress oviposition on acylsugar treated substrates. Tobacco thrips were sensitive to all compositions while western flower thrips and whiteflies were more sensitive to acylsugars from a subset of S. pennellii accessions. It follows that acylsugars could thus mediate plant-enemy interactions in such a way as to affect evolution of host specialization, resistance specificity, and potentially host differentiation or local adaptation. The acylsugars from S. pennellii LA1376 were separated by polarity into two fractions that differed sharply for their sugar moieties and fatty acid side chains. These fractions had different efficacies, with neither having activity approaching that of the original exudate. When these two fractions were recombined, the effect on both whiteflies and thrips exceeded the sum of the two fractions’ effects, and was similar to that of the original exudate. These results suggest that increasing diversity of components within a mixture may increase suppression through synergistic interactions. This study demonstrates the potential for composition-specific deployment of acylsugars for herbivore oviposition suppression, either through in planta production by tomato lines, or as biocides applied by a foliar spray.

Acyl sugars and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) resistance in segregating populations of tomato genotypes.

The wild tomato, Solanum pennellii, is an important source of resistance genes against tomato pests. This resistance is due to the presence of acyl sugars (AS), which are allelochemicals that have negative effects on arthropod pests. There are no commercially available tomato cultivars that exhibit significant levels of resistance to arthropod pests. Therefore, this study evaluated resistance to whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in F2 and F2RC1 tomato genotypes with high AS levels from a cross between Solanum lycopersicum 'Redenção' and the S. pennellii accession, LA-716. Plants were exposed to B. tabaci biotype B at the pre-flowering stage. In both generations, there were significant, negative correlations between AS content and oviposition preference and nymph development. Whitefly exhibited a lower preference for oviposition and produced fewer nymphs in genotypes with high AS levels and the wild parent S. pennellii than in the low AS-level genotypes and Redenção cultivar, demonstrating that the breeding program was effective in transferring resistance to the F2 and F2RC1 generations. RVTA-2010-pl#31 and RVTA-2010-pl#94 in the F2 population are promising genotypes that produced materials with high AS levels in the F2RC1 generation (RVTA-2010-31-pl#177 and RVTA-2010-94-pl#381).

A Feedback-Insensitive Isopropylmalate Synthase Affects Acylsugar Composition in Cultivated and Wild Tomato.

Acylsugars are insecticidal specialized metabolites produced in the glandular trichomes of plants in the Solanaceae family. In the tomato clade of the Solanum genus, acylsugars consist of aliphatic acids of different chain lengths esterified to sucrose, or less frequently to glucose. Through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry screening of introgression lines, we previously identified a region of chromosome 8 in the Solanum pennellii LA0716 genome (IL8-1/8-1-1) that causes the cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum to shift from producing acylsucroses with abundant 3-methylbutanoic acid acyl chains derived from leucine metabolism to 2-methylpropanoic acid acyl chains derived from valine metabolism. We describe multiple lines of evidence implicating a trichome-expressed gene from this region as playing a role in this shift. S. lycopersicum M82 SlIPMS3 (Solyc08g014230) encodes a functional end product inhibition-insensitive version of the committing enzyme of leucine biosynthesis, isopropylmalate synthase, missing the carboxyl-terminal 160 amino acids. In contrast, the S. pennellii LA0716 IPMS3 allele found in IL8-1/8-1-1 encodes a nonfunctional truncated IPMS protein. M82 transformed with an SlIPMS3 RNA interference construct exhibited an acylsugar profile similar to that of IL8-1-1, whereas the expression of SlIPMS3 in IL8-1-1 partially restored the M82 acylsugar phenotype. These IPMS3 alleles are polymorphic in 14 S. pennellii accessions spread throughout the geographical range of occurrence for this species and are associated with acylsugars containing varying amounts of 2-methylpropanoic acid and 3-methylbutanoic acid acyl chains.

Quantitative trait loci regulating the fatty acid profile of acylsugars in tomato

Acylsugars are secondary metabolites with proven insect resistance properties that are produced by many Solanaceous species including Solanum pennellii, a wild relative of tomato. The acylsugar chemotypes of S. pennellii varies greatly within its natural range and might be the product of plant/insect coevolution. The S. pennellii accession LA716 was used to transfer increased levels of acylsugar production into the cultivated tomato, resulting in the acylsugar tomato breeding line CU071026. S. pennellii accession LA716 produces high levels of acylsugars with chemotypes that differ greatly from those produced by CU071026 or the trace acylsugars of cultivated tomato. Understanding the genetic regulation of acylsugar chemistry will aid efforts to breed acylsugar production into cultivated tomato, allowing for alteration of both acylsugar base moieties and fatty acid profiles. This study uses a BC1F1 population produced from the cross of S. pennellii LA716 and CU071026 with CU071026 as the recurrent parent to identify QTL that change the fatty acid profile of acylsugars. Multiple QTL and epistatic interactions between QTL were detected including three QTL on chromosomes 2, 5, and 7, which significantly alter the percentage of extended iso-odd branched fatty acids and straight chain fatty acids on the acylsugars. We also report the introgression of one of these QTL, FA 2, into CU071026, resulting in a new tomato line with significantly increased i11:0 as a percentage of the fatty acids in its acylsugars. Candidate genes for these QTL and the impacts of altering acylsugar fatty acid are discussed.

Quantitative trait loci regulating sugar moiety of acylsugars in tomato

Acylsugars are broad-spectrum insect resistance sugar esters produced at very high levels by some accessions of the wild tomato, Solanum pennellii. Transferring acylsugar production from S. pennellii LA716 to cultivated tomato through traditional breeding developed the benchmark acylsugar breeding line CU071026. The base moiety of acylsugars (sucrose vs. glucose) can vary among S. pennellii accessions. Additionally the accession S. pennellii LA716 produces almost exclusively acylglucoses, but the breeding line CU071026 derived from S. pennellii LA716 produces exclusively acylsucroses. This study uses a BC1F1 and a BC1F2 population derived from the cross CU071026 × (CU071026 × S. pennellii LA716) to identify and confirm the action of three quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosomes 3, 4, and 11. The QTL on chromosomes 3 and 11 are both required for acylglucose production, while addition of the chromosome 4 QTL affects the level of acylglucose produced in the presence of the QTL on chromosomes 3 and 11. A three-way interaction between these acylglucose QTL was confirmed with a post hoc ANOVA. Identification of these three QTL provides a blueprint for breeding to shift acylsucrose production to acylglucose production in tomato breeding lines. The implications of these QTL and two additional QTL affecting total acylsugar level in the BC1F2 are discussed.

High resolution genetic and physical mapping of the I-3 region of tomato chromosome 7 reveals almost continuous microsynteny with grape chromosome 12 but interspersed microsynteny with duplications on Arabidopsis chromosomes 1, 2 and 3

The tomato I-3 gene introgressed from the Lycopersicon pennellii accession LA716 confers resistance to race 3 of the fusarium wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. We have improved the high-resolution map of the I-3 region of tomato chromosome 7 with the development and mapping of 31 new PCR-based markers. Recombinants recovered from L. esculentum cv. M82 x IL7-2 F2 and (IL7-2 x IL7-4) x M82 TC1F2 mapping populations, together with recombinants recovered from a previous M82 x IL7-3 F2 mapping population, were used to position these markers. A significantly higher recombination frequency was observed in the (IL7-2 x IL7-4) x M82 TC1F2 mapping population based on a reconstituted L. pennellii chromosome 7 compared to the other two mapping populations based on smaller segments of L. pennellii chromosome 7. A BAC contig consisting of L. esculentum cv. Heinz 1706 BACs covering the I-3 region has also been established. The new high-resolution map places the I-3 gene within a 0.38 cM interval between the molecular markers RGA332 and bP23/gPT with an estimated physical size of 50-60 kb. The I-3 region was found to display almost continuous microsynteny with grape chromosome 12 but interspersed microsynteny with Arabidopsis thaliana chromosomes 1, 2 and 3. An S-receptor-like kinase gene family present in the I-3 region of tomato chromosome 7 was found to be present in the microsyntenous region of grape chromosome 12 but was absent altogether from the A. thaliana genome.

Resistance to Taiwanese race 1 strains of Ralstonia solanacearum in wild tomato germplasm

A total of 252 wild Solanum accessions and one population of 49 introgression lines of LA716 were screened for resistance to a race 1/biovar 4/phylotype I strain Pss186 of Ralstonia solanacearum. Most wild tomato accessions were highly susceptible. However, five accessions of S. pennellii, i.e. LA1943, LA716, LA1656, LA1732 and TL01845 were resistant to strain Pss186. These accessions were then challenged against two other race 1/phylotpye I strains Pss4 and Pss190, which were more aggressive. All the five S. pennellii accessions were susceptible to Pss4, but displayed high to moderate resistance to Pss190 with a percentage of wilted plants ranging from 0% to 60%. Pss190 is an aggressive strain that made a resistant tomato line Hawaii 7996 susceptible. Thus, the results found in this study provide evidence of the presence of strain-specific resistance. LA3501, which has an introgression segment on chromosome 6, was found to be resistant to Pss186 among the screened introgression lines. This confirms the importance of resistance trait loci on chromosome 6 that have been identified by other studies. This is the first report of S. pennellii being resistant to bacterial wilt. These new resistant sources will provide breeders with more resources to breed for stable resistance to bacterial wilt of tomato.

Resistance of tomato genotypes with high level of acylsugars to Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard

The Lycopersicon pennellii accession LA716 has been used as a source of arthropod pest resistance in tomato breeding programs due the high contents of acylsugars presents in its leaflets. We investigated the relationship between high foliar acylsugar contents and repellence to spider mite Tetranychus evansi in plants with contrasting acylsugar levels, selected from F2 and BC1F2 (= F2 of the first backcross towards L. esculentum) generations derived from the interespecific cross L. esculentum 'TOM-584' <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> L. pennellii LA716. Mite resistance was assessed by a repellence test. Plants selected for high levels of acylsugars in leaflets had mite repellence levels similar to that of LA716. The high correlation confirmed the association between high acylsugar levels and mite repellence.

Helicoverpa armigera management: A review of AVRDC's research on host plant resistance in tomato

Tomato fruitworm (TFW), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is the most destructive pest of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in South and Southeast Asia. Research was initiated at AVRDC in 1980 to identify sources of resistance to this pest and to breed TFW-resistant tomato lines suitable for the region. Germplasm screening revealed high levels of TFW resistance only in the wild Lycopersicon species, particularly L. hirsutum and L. pennellii. Consequently TFW resistance breeding research focused on introgressing resistance from the wild species into the cultivated tomato. In the first resistance breeding efforts from 1981 to 1988, L. hirsutum accessions 76W-PI134417-A and 77W-PI134417-1 were selected as donor parents in a backcrossing program with L. esculentum. Backcross lines with significantly lower pest damage were derived from this program but all were invariably small-fruited and not commercially acceptable. From 1988 to 1995, a second attempt was undertaken using L. pennellii accession LA 716 as the resistance donor parent. Selection of resistant progenies was based initially on TFW damage and subsequently on acylsugar content, the compound that confers insect resistance, in leaves. We failed to find backcross progenies with acylsugar levels near that of the donor parent. Furthermore, progenies with higher acylsugar levels also showed low pollen production and other undesirable horticultural traits. From 1994 to 1996, in collaboration with Cornell University, an attempt was made to introgress the fruitworm resistance genes from LA 1777 ( L. hirsutum f. typicum) using QTL mapping. However, none of the near isogenic lines carrying individual L. hirsutum introgressions associated with fruitworm resistance showed resistance. Our research demonstrated the presence of high levels of TFW-resistance in several wild tomato accessions but our efforts to introgress this resistance into the cultivated tomato in order to combine it with acceptable fruit qualities did not succeed. Future of such classical breeding approach is discussed.

High-Resolution Fine Mapping and Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization Analysis of sun, a Locus Controlling Tomato Fruit Shape, Reveals a Region of the Tomato Genome Prone to DNA Rearrangements

The locus sun on the short arm of tomato chromosome 7 controls morphology of the fruit. Alleles from wild relatives impart a round shape, while alleles from certain cultivated varieties impart an oval shape typical of roma-type tomatoes. We fine mapped the locus in two populations and investigated the genome organization of the region spanning and flanking sun. The first high-resolution genetic map of the sun locus was constructed using a nearly isogenic F(2) population derived from a cross between Lycopersicon pennellii introgression line IL7-4 and L. esculentum cv Sun1642. The mapping combined with results from pachytene FISH experiments demonstrated that the top of chromosome 7 is inverted in L. pennellii accession LA716. sun was located close to the chromosomal breakpoint and within the inversion, thereby precluding map-based cloning of the gene using this population. The fruit-shape locus was subsequently fine mapped in a population derived from a cross between L. esculentum Sun1642 and L. pimpinellifolium LA1589. Chromosome walking using clones identified from several large genomic insert libraries resulted in two noncontiguous contigs flanking sun. Fiber-FISH analysis showed that distance between the two contigs measured 68 kb in L. esculentum Sun1642 and 38 kb in L. pimpinellifolium LA1589, respectively. The sun locus mapped between the two contigs, suggesting that allelic variation at this locus may be due to an insertion/deletion event. The results demonstrate that sun is located in a highly dynamic region of the tomato genome.

RFLP-based Analysis of Recombination Among Resistance Genes to Fusarium Wilt

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) line E427 has resistance genes to three races of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici derived from L. pennellii (L.pen) accession LA 716 and L. pimpinellifolium (L.pimp) accession PI 126915. E427 was crossed to susc. Bonny Best and F2 and backcross seed were obtained. Progeny were inoculated separately with Fusarium wilt races 1, 2, or 3. Lines with suspected recombination of resistance were selfed and re-inoculated until disease reactions were homozygous. Four lines were obtained with resistance to both races 2 and 3, but susceptible to race 1. These lines had the L.pen alleles at RFLP markers linked to I-3 on chromosome 7 and lacked L.pimp alleles linked to I and I-2 on chromosome 11. Complementation (F2) data indicated race 2 resistance on chromosome 7 was controlled by a single dominant gene. Three lines were resistant to race 2, but susceptible to races 1 and 3. These lines had L.pimp alleles at TG105 indicating the presence of I-2, and no L.pen alleles at markers linked to I-3. Three lines were resistant to race 1, but susceptible to races 2 and 3. All three had L.pimp alleles at TG523 confirming linkage to I on chromosome 11 and no L.pen alleles at markers tightly linked to I-3. However, one of the lines had L.pen alleles at CT113 on chromosome 7. This and F2 complementation data suggests the possible location of a race 1 resistant locus, I1. Two lines that were Fusarium wilt race 3 resistant and susceptible to race 1 had intermediate resistance to race 2. These two lines did not have the L. pennellii alleles at TG183, TG174, and CT43 near the I-3 locus indicating crossovers in this region reduced race 2 resistance.

RFLP-based Analysis of Recombination among Resistance Genes to Fusarium Wilt Races 1, 2, and 3 in Tomato

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) line E427 has resistance genes to all three races of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici derived from L. pennellii accession LA 716 and L. pimpinellifolium accession PI 126915. To determine genes that confer resistance to specific races of fusarium wilt, line E427 was crossed to susceptible `Bonny Best' and then F2 and backcross (to `Bonny Best') seed were obtained. Self-pollinations resulted in 337 lines and progeny of each line was inoculated separately with fusarium wilt races 1, 2, or 3. Plants from lines whose segregation suggested recombination of resistance were self-pollinated and reinoculated until disease reactions were homozygous. Four lines were obtained with resistance to both races 2 and 3, but susceptible to race 1. These lines had the L. pennellii alleles at restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers linked to I-3 on chromosome 7 and lacked L. pimpinellifolium alleles linked to I and I-2 on chromosome 11. Complementation (F2) data indicated race 2 resistance on chromosome 7 was controlled by a single dominant gene. Three lines were resistant to race 2, but susceptible to races 1 and 3. These lines had L. pimpinellifolium alleles at TG105 and flanking markers encompassing a 14.4 cM region indicating the presence of I-2, and no L. pennellii alleles at markers linked to I-3. Three lines were resistant to race 1, but susceptible to races 2 and 3. All three lines had L. pimpinellifolium alleles at TG523 confirming linkage to I on chromosome 11 and no L. pennellii alleles at markers tightly linked to I-3. However, one of the lines, 415, had L. pennellii alleles at CT113 on chromosome 7. This data along with F2 complementation data suggests the possible existence of a second race 1 resistant locus, I1, in this region. The four lines resistant to both races 2 and 3 were backcrossed again to `Bonny Best' and self-pollinated progeny from 174 plants were screened as described above. Two lines derived from different BC1S1 lines that were fusarium wilt race 3 resistant and susceptible to race 1 had intermediate resistance to race 2. These two lines did not have the L. pennellii alleles at TG183, TG174, and CT43 near the I-3 locus indicating crossovers in this region resulted in reduced race 2 resistance. Collectively, this is the first clear break in the fusarium wilt race 2 and race 1 resistance linkage on chromosome 11. It appears that the race 1 resistance derived from PI 126915 is controlled by the I gene. On chromosome 7, there was a break between the I-3 and I1 genes indicating I-3 does not confer race 1 resistance. The crossovers resulting in reduced resistance to race 2 could be within a complex I-3 locus or a tightly linked race 2 locus.

Greenhouse and field screening of wildLycopersicon germplasm for resistance to the whiteflyBemisia argentifolii

Thirty-two accessions of wild tomato (Lycopersicon spp.) germplasm were evaluated for resistance to the whiteflyBemisia argentifolii Bellows ⇐p; Perring in a greenhouse choice bioassay. Density data were recorded for the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces for (i) all life stages ofB. argentifolii and (ii) types I, IV, V and VI trichomes. Individual plant selections (33 from 22 wild tomato accessions) with high resistance were subsequently tested in the field to verify the resistance found in the greenhouse screening. Resistance was defined by the density of all life stages of the whitefly observed on the eight leaflets sampled at nodes 5 and 7. Only type IV trichomes had a consistent (but low) and significant negative correlation between trichome density and whitefly density for various life stages. The highest whitefly resistance was observed inLycopersicon pennellii accessions LA 716, LA 1340 and LA 2560. The most resistantL. hirsutum f.typicum accessions were LA 1777 and LA 1353.

The relation between low K +/Na + ratio and salt-tolerance in the wild tomato species Lycopersicon pennellii

The cultivated tomato Lycopersicon esculentum cultivar M82 and its wild salt-tolerant relative L. pennellii accession Atico were analyzed for: (a) dry weight, content of Na+ and K+ ions (in young and old leaves), and dry weight/potassium ratio (in young leaves) in plants grown in standard Hoagland and K-free solutions, without or with 100 mmol L−1 NaCl; and (b) dry weight in plants grown in K-free medium, in which K+ was substituted by the same concentration (5 mmol L−1) of Na+. Plants of L. pennellii, as expected: (a) responded better than the cultivated species to the high salinity in the standard solution with respect to biomass production; and (b) accumulated less K+ and more Na+ onder this condition. Furthermore, L. pennellii plants were characterized by: (a) a more efficient substitution of K+ function by Na+, as expressed by the fact that Na+ added to the K-free medium caused a greater increase of dry weight in the wild species; (b) a higher retranslocation of K+ from old to young leaves, and consequently (c) a higher K-efficiency (dry weight/K+) ratio. It is suggested that. (a) the use of less energy in L. pennellii, as compared with the cultivated species, to exclude Na+ and to accumulate K+ under salt stress contributes to the mechanism of salt tolerance in that species, and (b) the higher Na+ in the wild species is used as a cheap osmoticum in the vacuole and, possibly, as a partial substitute for K+ in some of its functions, and the lower K+ is compensated, at least in part, by the higher K-efficiency ratio.

Composition of Xylem and Phloem Exudates in Relation to the Salt-tolerance of Domestic and Wild Tomato Species

Summary Plants of Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Volgogradskij ( Le ) and L. pennellii accession PE-47 ( Lp ) were cultivated for 22 days under control and saline (100 mmol/L NaCl) conditions. Besides growth parameters and leaf water content, toxic ions (Na + , Cl − ), major nutrients (K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and sPO 4 3− ) and assimilates (carbohydrates and amino acids) were determined weekly in xylem and phloem exudates. Salinity reduced plant dry weight by 55 % and 29 % in Le and Lp , respectively, while a 46 % increase in the root biomass was found in the latter. An earlier and higher Na + and Cl − accumulation in the xylem and a greater Na + retranslocation through phloem was found in Lp . The better nutritional status found in the xylem of the salinized plants of the wild species at the end of the salinization period seems also to be linked to phloem-xylem retranslocation. Thereafter, a more rapid and higher transport of carbohydrates and amino acids from roots to shoot through xylem was found in Lp than in Le under salinity. The implication of these parameters in the salt-tolerance of tomato has been discussed.