Assessment of tomato genotypes resistance to Verticillium and Fusarium wilt diseases using molecular markers

Fusarium and Verticillium wilts are two major fungal wilt diseases of tomato that have restricted its production worldwide. Culturing resistant tomato cultivars is the best way to control such diseases. Molecular markers linked to resistance genes would be useful for improving tomato breeding programs. In this study allele, specific markers and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPS) markers were used to identify tomato genotypes that are resistant to Verticillium wilt and Fusarium wilt, respectively.
This cross-sectional study was carried out on 32 tomato hybrids and commercial varieties provided from Falat company. DNA was extracted using cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) method. Then, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using molecular markers. To detect Fusarium wilt resistant varieties, PCR-RFLP was down using RsaI and FokI restriction enzymes. The results were confirmed by pathogenicity test.
Out of 35 tomato genotypes, 83% were resistant to Verticillium wilt, while 17% were sensitive. Also, 46% of genotypes were resistant to Fusarium wilt, while 54% were sensitive. Genotypes that showed resistance to Verticillium and Fusarium wilts possessed Ve1 and I-2 genes, respectively.
Planting resistant genotypes in infected areas can control fungal diseases such as Verticillium and Fusarium wilts, without using any fungicides.