Tomato and Brinjal Germplasm Screening and Rootstock Identification for Fusarium Wilt Resistance

Fusarium oxysporum is a destructive disease of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) that causes large yield losses in fields and commercial greenhouses, implying the need for disease resistance research. The current study was conducted in Rabi - 2021 at the Postgraduate Research Block, Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. In the present study, 25 genotypes of tomato and brinjal were studied for Fusarium wilt resistance at morphological level. Scoring of Fusarium wilt infection severity based on morphological symptoms revealed five groups viz., asymptomatic/no chlorosis in one cultivar (Solanum torvum) slight chlorosis of leaves in two genotypes (Arka Keshav and Surya), Moderate chlorosis with wilting or stunting of the plant in ten genotypes (EC-620509, EC-615055, EC-620378, EC-620389, EC-620394, EC-620422, EC-631369, AVTO-9803, EC-620428 and EC-631379), severe chlorosis with wilting and stunting of the plant in four genotypes (EC-620503, LA-1589, Marutham and PKM-1) and plant death was observed in eight genotypes (EC-620441, EC-620452, LA -0490, Money maker, Pusa rohini, Pusa sheethal, including susceptible checks (Pusa Ruby and Arka Vikas). Genotypes exhibiting Fusarium wilt resistance will be grafted on to commercial variety of tomato and evaluated under open field conditions for yield, quality parameters and disease resistance under Telangana conditions.