Wild Tomato Species Research Articles

Response of some wild species of tomato againstPeanut bud necrosis virusunder open-field conditions

Thrips-borne Tospovirus pathogens adversely affect many globally important crops. Among 16 distinct virus species in the Tospovirus genus, four species including Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV) causing necrosis disease in tomato have been reported in India. Identification of stable sources and further utilization of wild relatives as gene sources to increase levels and diversify the bases of resistance may offer good management for the disease. A total of 13 wild species of tomato (Solanum peruvianum), two S. pimpinellifolium, one S. chilense, one S. pennellii and three check cultivars (S. lycopersicum) along with two cultivars (S. lycopersicum) having the Sw-5 and Sw-7 genes were evaluated under field conditions during three consecutive seasons (June to October 2008, July to December 2009, August 2010 to February 2011). Among all, a high degree of field resistance (>80%) was detected in seven lines of S. peruvianum (L00735, L00671, L00887, L06138), S. chilense (TL02226) and S. pimpinellifolium (L03708, TL02213) lines. The field data was also supported by negative reaction against a polyclonal antiserum of the nucleocapsid protein (N) of PBNV in direct antigen coating-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAC-ELISA). The cultivars with Sw-5 and Sw-7 genes were highly susceptible to PBNV.

In vitro reconstruction and analysis of evolutionary variation of the tomato acylsucrose metabolic network

Plant glandular secreting trichomes are epidermal protuberances that produce structurally diverse specialized metabolites, including medically important compounds. Trichomes of many plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) produce O-acylsugars, and in cultivated and wild tomatoes these are mixtures of aliphatic esters of sucrose and glucose of varying structures and quantities documented to contribute to insect defense. We characterized the first two enzymes of acylsucrose biosynthesis in the cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum. These are type I/IV trichome-expressed BAHD acyltransferases encoded by Solyc12g006330--or S. lycopersicum acylsucrose acyltransferase 1 (Sl-ASAT1)--and Solyc04g012020 (Sl-ASAT2). These enzymes were used--in concert with two previously identified BAHD acyltransferases--to reconstruct the entire cultivated tomato acylsucrose biosynthetic pathway in vitro using sucrose and acyl-CoA substrates. Comparative genomics and biochemical analysis of ASAT enzymes were combined with in vitro mutagenesis to identify amino acids that influence CoA ester substrate specificity and contribute to differences in types of acylsucroses that accumulate in cultivated and wild tomato species. This work demonstrates the feasibility of the metabolic engineering of these insecticidal metabolites in plants and microbes.

Protein modeling and molecular dynamics simulation of SlWRKY4 protein cloned from drought tolerant tomato (Solanum habrochaites) line EC520061.

WRKY genes are members of one of the largest families of plant transcription factors and play an important role in response to biotic and abiotic stresses, and overall growth and development. Understanding the interaction of WRKY proteins with other proteins/ligands in plant cells is of utmost importance to develop plants having tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The SlWRKY4 gene was cloned from a drought tolerant wild species of tomato (Solanum habrochaites) and the secondary structure and 3D modeling of this protein were predicted using Schrödinger Suite-Prime. Predicted structures were also subjected to plot against Ramachandran's conformation, and the modeled structure was minimized using Macromodel. Finally, the minimized structure was simulated in the water environment to check the protein stability. The behavior of the modeled structure was well-simulated and analyzed through RMSD and RMSF of the protein. The present work provides the modeled 3D structure of SlWRKY4 that will help in understanding the mechanism of gene regulation by further in silico interaction studies.

Resistance to viral yellow leaf curl in tomato through RNAi targeting two Begomovirus species strains

Tomato yellow leaf curl disease caused by different begomovirus species leads to substantial tomato production losses worldwide. In Taiwan, the monopartite tomato leaf curl Taiwan virus (ToLCTWV) and bi-partite tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (TYLCTHV) are the predominant begomovirus species causing this disease. Resistance genes are available in wild tomato species and a continuous search for new resistance genes and alternative control methods is required to respond to the rapid evolution of virus strains. RNA interference is an efficient technology to induce resistance against viral pathogens. Six different sections of the ToLCTWV genome were tested in transformed tomato for their capacity to reduce symptoms and inhibit viral DNA accumulation. The two most effective constructs for ToLCTWV infection carried regions of the C1 and C2 genes, and portions of either the C3 or C4 gene of ToLCTWV. A RNAi construct containing fusions of C1, C2 and C3 sections of ToLCTWV and the corresponding sections of the TYLCTHV DNA-A genome were introgressed into tomato line CLN1621L. R1 and R2 families were challenged using viruliferous whiteflies in separate screen houses for ToLCTWV and TYLCTHV. Sixteen and 12 R2 plants derived from one primary transformant remained symptomless until at least 3 weeks after exposure to ToLCTWV and TYLCTHV, respectively, and accumulated only very low titres of viral DNA, as shown by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Our results suggest that expression of bi-viral RNAi constructs in tomato can lead to resistance against two different tomato infecting begomovirus species.

Análise de fatores de resistência a Tospovirus em acessos de Solanum (secção Lycopersicon)1

RESUMOO cultivo ininterrupto e intensivo de tomateiro tem favorecido o estabelecimento de diversas doenças que afetam a produção e a qualidade dos frutos. A resistência genética é o melhor método para o controle da doença chamada 'viracabeça' (causada por distintas espécies do gênero Tospovirus), sendo o Sw-5 o primeiro gene de resistência efetivamente identificado para o seu controle no tomateiro. Objetivou-se avaliar novas potenciais fontes de resistência às tospoviroses, em germoplasma de espécies selvagens de Solanum (Lycopersicon), bem como conduzir análises filogenéticas relacionadas à característica evolutiva do gene Sw-5b, em acessos de espécies selvagens de tomateiro. Essas análises evidenciaram que as diferentes espécies de tomateiros pertencem a distintos grupos evolutivos. A maioria dos acessos com resistência ampla contra espécies de Tospovirus correspondem a variantes alélicas muito próximas da cópia original do gene Sw-5b. No entanto, acessos resistentes de S. chilense e S. habrochaites localizamse em grupos filogeneticamente distintos, indicando que eles podem representar fontes promissoras de novos genes/alelos, condicionando resistência ampla aos tospovírus.

North-South Colonization Associated with Local Adaptation of the Wild Tomato Species Solanum chilense.

After colonization population sizes may vary across the species range depending on environmental conditions and following colonizations. An interesting question is whether local adaptation occurs more frequently in large ancestral populations or in small derived populations. A higher number of new mutations and a lower effect of genetic drift should favor selection in large populations, whereas small derived populations may require an initial local adaptation event to facilitate the colonization of new habitats. Wild tomatoes are native to a broad range of different habitats characterized by variable abiotic conditions in South America, and represent an ideal system to study this interplay between demography and natural selection. Population genetic analyses and statistical inference of past demography were conducted on pooled-sequencing data from 30 genes (8,080 single nucleotide polymorphisms) from an extensive sampling of 23 Solanum chilense populations over Chile and Peru. We reveal first a north-south colonization associated with relaxed purifying selection in the south as shown by a decrease of genetic variation and an increasing proportion of nonsynonymous polymorphism from north to south, and population substructure with at least four genetic groups. Second, we uncover a dual picture of adaptation consisting of 1) a decreasing proportion of adaptive amino acid substitutions from north to south suggesting that adaptation is favored in large populations, whereas 2) signatures of local adaptation predominantly occur in the smaller populations from the marginal ranges in the south.

Continuous light increases growth, daily carbon gain, antioxidants, and alters carbohydrate metabolism in a cultivated and a wild tomato species.

Cultivated tomato species develop leaf injury while grown in continuous light (CL). Growth, photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidative enzyme activities of a cultivated (Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Aromata’) and a wild tomato species (Solanum pimpinellifolium L.) were compared in this study aiming to analyze the species-specific differences and thermoperiod effects in responses to CL. The species were subjected to three photoperiodic treatments for 12 days in climate chambers: 16-h photoperiod with a light/dark temperature of 26/16°C (P16D10 or control); CL with a constant temperature of 23°C (P24D0); CL with a variable temperature of 26/16°C (P24D10). The results showed that both species grown in CL had higher dry matter production due to the continuous photosynthesis and a subsequent increase in carbon gain. In S. lycopersicum, the rate of photosynthesis and the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II declined in CL with the development of leaf chlorosis, reduction in the leaf chlorophyll content and a higher activity of antioxidative enzymes. The normal diurnal patterns of starch and sugar were only present under control conditions. The results demonstrated that CL conditions mainly affected the photosynthetic apparatus of a cultivated species (S. lycopersicum), and to a less degree to the wild species (S. pimpinellifolium). The negative effects of the CL could be alleviated by diurnal temperature variations, but the physiological mechanisms behind these are less clear. The results also show that the genetic potential for reducing the negative effects of CL does exist in the tomato germplasm.

Comprehensive Tissue-Specific Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Distinct Regulatory Programs during Early Tomato Fruit Development.

Fruit formation and early development involve a range of physiological and morphological transformations of the various constituent tissues of the ovary. These developmental changes vary considerably according to tissue type, but molecular analyses at an organ-wide level inevitably obscure many tissue-specific phenomena. We used laser-capture microdissection coupled to high-throughput RNA sequencing to analyze the transcriptome of ovaries and fruit tissues of the wild tomato species Solanum pimpinellifolium. This laser-capture microdissection-high-throughput RNA sequencing approach allowed quantitative global profiling of gene expression at previously unobtainable levels of spatial resolution, revealing numerous contrasting transcriptome profiles and uncovering rare and cell type-specific transcripts. Coexpressed gene clusters linked specific tissues and stages to major transcriptional changes underlying the ovary-to-fruit transition and provided evidence of regulatory modules related to cell division, photosynthesis, and auxin transport in internal fruit tissues, together with parallel specialization of the pericarp transcriptome in stress responses and secondary metabolism. Analysis of transcription factor expression and regulatory motifs indicated putative gene regulatory modules that may regulate the development of different tissues and hormonal processes. Major alterations in the expression of hormone metabolic and signaling components illustrate the complex hormonal control underpinning fruit formation, with intricate spatiotemporal variations suggesting separate regulatory programs.

Genome-wide analysis of phylogeny, expression profile and sub-cellular localization of SKP1-Like genes in wild tomato

SKP1 is a core component of SCF complex, a major type of E3 ubiquitin ligase catalyzing the last step in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathway. In present study, SKP1 gene family in Solanum pimpinellifolium (SSK), a wild species of tomato, was investigated. A total of 19 SSK genes were identified through homologous search. Their chromosomal locations, gene structures, phylogeny, expression profiles, sub-cellular localizations and protein–protein interaction patterns with putative F-box proteins were analyzed in detail. The high homology and similar expression patterns among clustered SSK genes in chromosome suggested that they may have evolved from duplication events and are functionally redundant. Sub-cellular localization indicated that most of the SSK proteins are distributed in both cytosol and nucleus, except for SSK8, which is detected in cytosol only. Tissue-specific expression patterns suggested that many SSK genes may be involved in tomato fruit development. Furthermore, several SSK genes were found to be responsive to heat stress and salicylic acid treatment. Based on phylogenetic analysis, expression profiles and protein interaction property, we proposed that tomato SSK1 and SSK2 might have similar function to ASK1 and ASK2 in Arabidopsis.

Heritability of late blight resistance in tomato conferred by Solanum pimpinellifolium accession PI 224710

AbstractLate blight (LB), caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is one of the most destructive diseases of tomato and potato worldwide. Identifying and characterizing new sources of resistance is essential given the emergence of new aggressive and fungicide‐resistant P. infestans isolates. Recently, we reported identification of several new sources of LB resistance within the tomato wild species, Solanum pimpinellifolium. In this study, we examined heritability (h2) of LB resistance conferred by the S. pimpinellifolium accession PI 224710 using a parent–offspring regression (correlation) analysis. F2 and F3 progeny populations, derived from crosses between PI 224710 and a LB‐susceptible tomato breeding line, were evaluated for response to LB infection. To obtain a better estimate of h2, the F3 progeny were evaluated for LB resistance in two separate replicated experiments. The h2 estimates were similar in the two experiments and averaged ~0.87, suggesting that this resistance was highly heritable. Two different methods estimated involvement of one resistance locus. Breeding and mapping efforts are underway to further assess the viability of this newly reported LB resistance.

Cuticular wax variation in the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), related wild species and their interspecific hybrids

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the world's most important vegetable crop species. Among the many tomato accessions available, only a few are tolerant to abiotic stresses, which are responsible for the majority of the crop losses worldwide. Wild tomato species are then secondary gene pool in the breeding of more resistant tomato cultivars. In the current study, the composition of leaf cuticular waxes from fourteen tomato accessions, including S. lycopersicum, Solanum pennellii, Solanum pimpinellifolium, and their interspecific hybrids was studied in order to select the most adequate chemotaxonomic markers. Total cuticular wax load of S. pennellii plants was much higher than in the other plant species. Hydrocarbons were usually the most abundant wax components, followed by minor quantities of triterpenes and other compounds. Interspecific hybrids showed intermediate wax characteristics. The amount and composition of surface waxes were not correlated with the abiotic stress tolerance in S. lycopersicum. The composition of the hydrocarbon fraction was the least variable both within a single accession and between all the plants studied. Based on the results, cuticular hydrocarbons are proposed as potential chemotaxonomic markers in the classification of tomato and related species.

Unilateral incompatibility gene ui1.1 encodes an S-locus F-box protein expressed in pollen of Solanum species

Unilateral interspecific incompatibility (UI) is a postpollination, prezygotic reproductive barrier that prevents hybridization between related species when the female parent is self-incompatible (SI) and the male parent is self-compatible (SC). In tomato and related Solanum species, two genes, ui1.1 and ui6.1, are required for pollen compatibility on pistils of SI species or hybrids. We previously showed that ui6.1 encodes a Cullin1 (CUL1) protein. Here we report that ui1.1 encodes an S-locus F-box (SLF) protein. The ui1.1 gene was mapped to a 0.43-cM, 43.2-Mbp interval at the S-locus on chromosome 1, but positional cloning was hampered by low recombination frequency. We hypothesized that ui1.1 encodes an SLF protein(s) that interacts with CUL1 and Skp1 proteins to form an SCF-type (Skp1, Cullin1, F-box) ubiquitin E3 ligase complex. We identified 23 SLF genes in the S. pennellii genome, of which 19 were also represented in cultivated tomato (S. lycopersicum). Data from recombination events, expression analysis, and sequence annotation highlighted 11 S. pennellii genes as candidates. Genetic transformations demonstrated that one of these, SpSLF-23, is sufficient for ui1.1 function. A survey of cultivated and wild tomato species identified SLF-23 orthologs in each of the SI species, but not in the SC species S. lycopersicum, S. cheesmaniae, and S. galapagense, pollen of which lacks ui1.1 function. These results demonstrate that pollen compatibility in UI is mediated by protein degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, a mechanism related to that which controls pollen recognition in SI.

The tomato I-3 gene: a novel gene for resistance to Fusarium wilt disease.

Plant resistance proteins provide race-specific immunity through the recognition of pathogen effectors. The resistance genes I, I-2 and I-3 have been incorporated into cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) from wild tomato species to confer resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) races 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Although the Fol effectors corresponding to these resistance genes have all been identified, only the I-2 resistance gene has been isolated from tomato. To isolate the I-3 resistance gene, we employed a map-based cloning approach and used transgenic complementation to test candidate genes for resistance to Fol race 3. Here, we describe the fine mapping and sequencing of genes at the I-3 locus, which revealed a family of S-receptor-like kinase (SRLK) genes. Transgenic tomato lines were generated with three of these SRLK genes and one was found to confer Avr3-dependent resistance to Fol race 3, confirming it to be I-3. The finding that I-3 encodes an SRLK reveals a new pathway for Fol resistance and a new class of resistance genes, of which Pi-d2 from rice is also a member. The identification of I-3 also allows the investigation of the complex effector-resistance protein interaction involving Avr1-mediated suppression of I-2- and I-3-dependent resistance in tomato.

Marker assisted selection of Ty-2 and Ty-3 carrying tomato lines and their implications in breeding tomato leaf curl disease resistant hybrids

Tomato leaf curl virus disease caused by whitefly-transmitted begomoviruses is a serious tomato production constraint in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Use of genetic resistance for diseases caused by begomoviruses is an important component of sustainable disease management approaches. To date, six introgressions (Ty genes) derived from different tomato wild species that confer resistance to tomato leaf curl disease have been identified. Among these, dominant Ty-2 and partially dominant Ty-3 are important for the development of resistant hybrids because of their gene action. In the present study we report marker assisted selection of tomato lines carrying Ty-2 and Ty-3 genes and the effect of combining these in tomato hybrids using agroinoculation. The response of lines and hybrids with the Ty-2 gene indicated ineffectiveness of Ty-2 to infection by a bipartite tomato leaf curl virus. The Ty-3 gene showed dosage effect with partial resistance in heterozygous state. However, the level of resistance in hybrids with the combination of Ty-2 and Ty-3 genes was higher and similar to homozygous Ty-3 plants. The Ty-2 gene in either homozygous or heterozygous state enhanced the level of resistance of plants with heterozygous Ty-3. Thus, tomato hybrid breeding programs can be benefited by using tomato lines carrying Ty-2 and Ty-3 resistance genes. The combined results of evaluation of horticultural performance, field resistance and agroinoculation tests demonstrated that the set of tomato lines developed in this study could be useful resources for achieving higher level of resistance in tomato hybrids.

Different Strategies Used by Domesticated Tomato and Wild-related Species to Confront Salt Stress

Salinity is responsible for important yield losses in crops, among them tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a horticultural crop of the highest agro-economic importance. Comparing the responses to salinity of domesticated tomato and wild-relative species, displaying different degrees of tolerance, could give key insights in the strategies used by the latter ones to successfully confront salt stress, as well as to identify key genes involved in such tolerance mechanisms in wild tomato species. The behaviour in salt stress condition of a tomato cultivar (cv Moneymaker) and two wild genotypes of the S. cheesmaniae and S. pennellii species, presenting an intermediate and high level of tolerance, was compared. The objective is to dissect the differential responses to the osmotic effect as well as to the ionic stress due to salinity, applying a stress level which allows maintaining long-term plant growth. From the first hours of salt stress, the two wild species are able to respond to osmotic stress avoiding dehydration, contrarily to domesticated tomato, which suggests the importance of the osmotic tolerance under salt stress. Moreover, the strategies of both wild species seem to be different as reflected by leaf temperature (LT) results, measured by non-invasive infrared thermography, which is closely linked to water loss due to transpiration. Interestingly, the uptake and solutes transport also differed among species as well as the gene expression involved in ion homeostasis. These results may allow to identifying key physiological mechanisms and genes conferring salinity tolerance in wild tomatoes, which could be further introduced in domesticated tomato.Acknowledgements. This work was financed by the MINECO, Spain (Ref. AGL2012-40150-03) and Fundación Séneca, Región de Murcia, Spain (Ref. 18973/JLI/13).

Characterization of early blight resistance in a recombinant inbred line population of tomato: I. Heritability and trait correlations

Most commercial cultivars of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are susceptible to early blight (EB), a devastating fungal (Alternaria solani and A. tomatophila) disease of tomato in the US and elsewhere. Common measures of disease control currently include sanitation, crop rotation and heavy use of fungicides. Use of resistant cultivars, however, is the most economically acceptable and environmentally sound approach to controlling EB disease in tomato. Sources of genetic resistance to EB have been identified within the related wild species of tomato, including S. habrochaites, S. peruvianum and S. pimpinellifolium. Characterization of genetic resistance to EB would facilitate transfer of resistance to elite breeding lines and hybrid cultivars of tomato. We used a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of tomato, previously developed from a cross between S. pimpinellifolium accession LA 2093 and S. lycopersicum tomato breeding line NCEBR-1, to determine the inheritance of EB resistance as well as

A recombinant inbred line population of tomato and its genetic map constructed based on a solanum lycopersicum x s. pimpinellifolium cross

A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of tomato was developed from a cross between a tomato breeding line (NC 84173) and an accession (LA 0722) of the tomato wild species S. pimpinellifolium. NC 84173 is a horticulturally-superior, multiple-disease resistant inbred line that has been used as a parent in production of several commercial tomato hybrid cultivars. LA 0722 is a self-compatible, inbred accession, which was previously identified as a genetic source for fruit quality, disease resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance. The RIL population is in the F9 generation and consists of 145 lines. A genetic linkage map of the population was developed with 191 molecular markers, including 129 RFLPs and 62 RGAs. The genetic map spans 1505 cM of the 12 tomato chromosomes with an average inter-marker distance of 7.9 cM. The RFLP markers were chosen from the high-density map of tomato, previously developed based on a S. lycopersicum  S. pennellii F2 population. The RGA markers were derived using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed based on conserved leucine-rich repeat (LRR),

Eco-physiological response to water stress of drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive tomato genotypes

Water stress is an increasing environmental constraint affecting tomato growth and yield in Mediterranean areas. Solanum pennellii is a wild tomato species that exhibits a higher water use efficiency compared with cultivated S. lycopersicum. In particular, a cultivated line carrying a small S. pennellii region on chromosome 9 (IL 9-2-5) was identified as more tolerant to water deficit. In this work, the tolerant (IL 9-2-5) and the susceptible (M82) genotypes were subjected to three different water regimes: irrigation with 100% (V1), 50% (V2) and 25% (V3) field capacity. To evaluate the physiological response of IL 9-2-5 and M82 to water deficit, leaf functional traits, plant biomass production and maximal PSII photochemical efficiency were measured together with photosynthetic pigments and phenolic compounds. The higher tolerance to water deficiency of IL 9-2-5 was associated with the development of a better antioxidant system, especially in treatment V3. In addition, IL 9-2-5 had higher values of sclerophylly and leaf dry matter content thus confirming that the tolerance of IL 9-2-5 can be attributed to traits related to leaf morphology and physiology. In future, identification of polymorphisms in key-genes controlling these traits can guide breeding efforts aimed at improving susceptible genotypes.

Overexpression of ShDHN, a dehydrin gene from Solanum habrochaites enhances tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses in tomato

Dehydrins (DHNs) play important roles in plant adaptation to abiotic stress. In this study, a cold-induced SK3-type DHN gene (ShDHN) isolated from wild tomato species Solanum habrochaites was characterized for its function in abiotic stress tolerance. ShDHN was constitutively expressed in root, leaf, stem, flower and fruit. ShDHN was continuously up-regulated during cold stress and showed higher expression level in the cold-tolerant S. habrochaites than in the susceptible S. lycopersicum. Moreover, ShDHN expression was also regulated by drought, salt, osmotic stress, and exogenous signaling molecules. Overexpression of ShDHN in cultivated tomato increased tolerance to cold and drought stresses and improved seedling growth under salt and osmotic stresses. Compared with the wild-type, the transgenic plants accumulated more proline, maintained higher enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and suffered less membrane damage under cold and drought stresses. Moreover, the transgenic plants accumulated lower levels of H2O2 and O2− under cold stress, and had higher relative water contents and lower water loss rates under dehydration conditions. Furthermore, overexpression of ShDHN in tomato led to the up- or down-regulated expression of several genes involved in ROS scavenging and JA signaling pathway, including SOD1, GST, POD, LOX, PR1 and PR2. Taken together, these results indicate that ShDHN has pleiotropic effects on improving plant adaptation to abiotic stresses and that it possesses potential usefulness in genetic improvement of stress tolerance in tomato.

Development of interspecific Solanum lycopersicum and screening for Tospovirus resistance

Tospovirus has emerged as a serious viral pathogen for several crops including tomato. The tomato production is being severely affected worldwide by Tospovirus. Some reports have been published about the association of plant virus and development of human disease either by direct or indirect consumption. Resistance to this virus has been identified as good source in wild tomato species (Lycopersicum peruvianum). But the introgression of resistance genes into cultivated tomato lines and the development of interspecific hybrid are hampered due to incompatibility, fertilization barriers and embryo abortion. But this barrier has been broken by applying the embryo rescue methods. This study describes the development of interspecific hybrid tomato plants by highly efficient embryo rescue method and screening for Tospovirus resistance. The interspecific hybrid tomato plants were developed by making a cross between wild tomato species (L. peruvianum) and cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). The immature embryos were cultured in standardized medium and interspecific hybrids were developed from embryogenic callus. The immature embryos excised from 7 to 35days old fruits were used for embryo rescue and 31days old embryos showed very good germination capabilities and produced the highest number of plants. Developed plants were hardened enough and shifted to green house. The hybrid nature of interspecific plants was further confirmed by comparing the morphological characters from their parents. The F1, F2 and F3 plants were found to have varying characters especially for leaf type, color of stem, fruits, size, shapes and they were further screened for virus resistance both in lab and open field followed by Enzyme linked Immunosorbant Assay confirmation. Finally, a total of 11 resistant plants were selected bearing red color fruits with desired shape and size.