VARIABILITY OF Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici AND RESISTANCE OF TOMATO TO FUSARIUM WILT

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the variability of populations of Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. lycopersici causal agent of fusarium wilt of tomato, fromcommercial fields in the Regions Agreste and Sertão, Pernambuco State, andevaluate aspects related to disease resistance. Different commercial tomatofields were visited, plants with disease symptoms were collected for isolationsand, subsequent characterization of the pathogen populations in relation toepidemiological components and races. Additionally resistance sources wereidentified and tomato progenies evaluated for disease resistance undergreenhouse conditions. In the studied areas exists higher prevalence of F.oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 2 in relation to race 1, however, larger variabilitywas obtained in relation to epidemiological components. The cvs. BHRS-2,3,Floradade, Grande Rio, Secullus, Rotan-4 and TX 450-08 were the mostresistant to the races of the pathogen, being therefore suitable for the tomatogenetic breeding for disease resistance.