Development of BC3F2 Tomato Genotypes with Arthropod Resistance Introgressed from Solanum habrochaites var. hirsutum (PI127826)

Abstract

Arthropod pests are among the biggest problems faced in tomato production worldwide. To overcome the losses caused by these pests, one of the most sustainable and economical strategies is the use of resistance introgressed from wild species. We aimed to develop BC3F2 tomato genotypes with high levels of zingiberene (ZGB) and resistance to whitefly (Bemisia tabaci biotype B), South American tomato pinworm (Tuta absoluta), and the two-spotted spider mite (Tatranychus urticae), from the wild accession of Solanum habrochaites var. hirsutum (accession PI127826). The quantification of ZGB in 520 BC3F2 genotypes and in the parentals yielded the selection of five genotypes with high ZGB content and three with low ZGB content, which were then infested with B. tabaci, T. absolute, and T. urticae. In these eight genotypes and in the parents, the types and amounts of trichomes on the leaves were determined. Additionally, molecular markers were used to identify the genotypes with a higher recurrent genome recovery. The results confirmed the transfer of resistance from S. habrochaites to the BC3F2 genotypes and showed that this resistance seems to be directly related to high concentrations of ZGB and the presence of type IV trichomes.