Associational Resistance Using Wild and Commercial Tomato Genotypes Employed in the Management of Tomato Virus Vectors

Abstract

Some of the key pests of tomatoes are virus vectors, such as whiteflies, green peach aphids, and thrips, mainly because there is a lack of full resistance to the transmitted viruses. Alternatives to reduce this problem include the use of a push-and-pull strategy. Hence, this work assessed the association between Solanum habrochaites PI 1344117, used as a companion plant, and commercial tomato varieties over tomato virus vectors and the yield quality and quantity. Field and greenhouse trials were run during the 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 seasons. The treatments were BRS Tospodoro and BRS Tyão cultivated as monocrops and associated with PI-134417. The number of these insects was assessed by directly counting ten plants per plot and using captures on yellow sticky traps settled in the center of the plots. The yield and the number of irregularly ripening fruits (a symptom caused by whiteflies) were also measured. Both commercial cultivars gained from the protective effect of PI 134417, expressed by the significant reduction in the virus vectors on the plants. It was also noticed that there was a reduction in the number of irregularly ripening fruits, improving the fruit quality. These results encourage the use of wild and commercial tomato genotypes in association with implementing strategies to control tomato virus vectors, reducing the need to rely only on a chemical control.