Role of allelochemicals and trichome density in the resistance of tomato to whitefly

Abstract

In Brazil, the tomato is cultivated in almost all geographic regions even though its yield is significantly reduced by pests and diseases. Among these pests and diseases, whitefly is a major problem that causes direct and indirect damage due to its role in transmission of geminiviruses. The aim of the present study was to compare the degree of resistance to the silverleaf whitefly of tomato plant lines rich in acyl sugars (AS), zingiberene (ZGB), and 2-tridecanone (2-TD) and to establish whether selection for strains with higher densities of glandular trichomes promotes sufficient resistance to this insect pest. The investigated lines were developed by performing back-crossings in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) from the interspecific crossing of S. lycopersicum x S. habrochaites var. glabratum 'PI 134417'. Lines rich in AS, ZGB, and 2-TD were tested for their levels of resistance to B. tabaci biotype B. Two tomato plant lines (TOM-584 and TOM-679) with normal AS levels and one wild specimen (PI 134417) with high 2-TD content were used as controls. TOM-687, ZGB-703, and TOM-622 were less preferred by B. tabaci for oviposition, and nymphs exhibited a poorer survival rate on those plant lines than on the susceptible controls, TOM-584 and TOM-679. Allelochemical-rich lines exhibited pest resistance, whereas the controls did not, and the allelochemical-rich lines did not differ significantly from each other in the level of resistance. The results show that the development of tomato plant lines rich in 2-TD, ZGB and AS is an effective option for indirect selection for resistance to B. tabaci biotype B. All lines selected based on high trichome density except for BPX-365F-751-05-01-03 exhibited fewer nymphs than the susceptible controls, indicating that selection for more glandular trichomes was generally effective in promoting increased resistance to the silverleaf white flay.