Tomato as a model plant for plant-pathogen interactions

Abstract

Tomato has been a good model plant to analyze plant-pathogen interactions and its prospects for the future are promising. An international consortium named International Solanaceae Genomics Project (SOL) is proceeding with whole genome sequencing of tomato. In order to be relevant in the post-genomic era, accumulation of information on tomatopathogen interactions is important. In this review, the following topics are addressed from the perspective of plant pathology: cultivars of tomato, wild species of tomato, disease-resistance in modern breeding of tomato, fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens of tomato, known interactions between tomato and pathogens, fungicides and biocontrol agents applicable to tomato, and systemic resistance induced by microbes and by plant activators. Tomato is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide, however, its cultivation has been limited by an abundant attack by pathogens. In order to establish effective control methods to control them, analysis of tomato-pathogen interactions is also important.