Dissecting host plant resistance in tomato against sucking pests

Abstract

An experiment on screening tomato genotypes against major sucking pests was conducted during the Rabi season 2023- 24. The study identified NDT-2021-1 and NDT-2022-2, along with NDT-2021-3 and NDT-2022-4, as promising genotypes against whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), jassids, Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida), and aphid, Aphis gossypii Glov. Anatomical traits such as trichomes on the leaf and calyx and pericarp thickness, together with the biochemical compound phenol, played an important role in imparting resistance in these tomato genotypes. In contrast, protein, lycopene, carbohydrate, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and peroxidase enzyme activity showed positive correlation with pest incidence. The study therefore indicates that both biophysical parameters and biochemical characteristics contribute significantly to the mechanisms of resistance.