RESISTANCE ASSESSMENT OF TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) AND GBOMA (SOLANUM MACROCARPON L.) CULTIVARS AGAINST BACTERIAL WILT CAUSED BY RALSTONIA SOLANACEARUM IN BENIN

Abstract

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is the devastating disease of Solanaceaeous plants including tomato and Gboma in Benin. To find out resistant cultivars against bacterial wilt, nine tomato and seven Gboma cultivars were screened in glasshouse in a completely randomized block design with 3 replications. Tomato plants were inoculated by crown region inundation with 40 ml of 108 CFU/ml bacterial suspension of the strain 19bLDC Phylotype 1 of R. solanacearum four weeks after transplanting while Gboma plants were inoculated after scarification of their roots with the strain 5aLDC Phylotype 1. Two weeks after transplanting, it was found that tomato cultivars HW7996 and PADMA were highly resistant; Platinum was resistant; Jalani, Thorgal and Mongal were moderately resistant; Nirvana was moderately susceptible (MS) and Tohounvi and TLCV15 were susceptible (S). Gboma cultivar AUB3G was appeared as resistant to R. solanacearum, cultivars Gboma Athiémé, Gboma PCM, CR1-01-001, CR1-13-049 and BOC15 were susceptible (S) and Gboma-teck was highly susceptible. It can be concluded that tomato cultivars PADMA and HW7996 and that of Gboma AUB3G were resistant to R. solanacearum. All cultivars were colonized with bacterial inoculum. Considering that resistant plants also harbor the disease, growers should practice sanitation as well for both susceptible and resistant cultivars. The resistant cultivars identified will be an important component in the management of bacterial wilt of tomatoes and Gboma and will be disseminated to farmers. They will serve as basic data for breeders and seed production firms.