Evaluation of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Accessions Resistance against Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum)

Aim: Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) is one of the major biotic factors limiting tomato production globally. Research was conducted in three environments to screen and identify Nigeria tomato accessions that are resistant to fusarium wilt.

Methodology: Twelve (12) prominent tomato accessions were collected and screened against Fusarium oxysporum by artificial inoculation under field conditions in three diverse environments. The experiments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Data were collected on plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, number of fruits per plant, and fresh fruits yield per plant (kg) and analyzed using IRRI STAR software. Disease scoring was done using a 0-9 point rating scale in the evaluation trials.

Result: The results show some significance levels (P<0.05) in the traits studied within the accessions. The screening result revealed that none of the twelve prominent accessions is highly resistant to the pathogen. One accession was resistant. Three were moderately resistant; three were moderately susceptible and five were highly susceptible.

Conclusion: The accessions that were resistant and moderately resistant could be used as a gene donor for breeding for tomato cultivars resistant to Fusarium oxysporum. Moreover, the accessions that have been identified to be resistant and moderately resistant with high yield should be cultivated before improved cultivars that will be resistant to Fusarium oxysporum will be readily available and accessible in rainforest and derived guinea savanna agro-ecological zones of Nigeria.