Response of late blight disease resistant-variety to common occurring tomato diseases in the field

A study to determine field performance of tomato late blight disease resistant-variety was conducted during long rain seasons of the years 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 at the Crop Museum of Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania. Treatments were laid out in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Three tomato varieties: Cal J, Meru and Tanya were planted. Significant differences in diseases incidence and severity were observed among tomato varieties whereby Cal J and Tanya were susceptible to tomato late blight and Septoria leaf spot while tomato variety Meru was resistant to the former two diseases. However, Meru was highly susceptible to tomato early blight disease than Cal J and Tanya. Results revealed that, the tested varieties were equally susceptible to Fusarium wilt and tomato yellow leaf curl diseases. The study suggests that less susceptible tomato variety Meru could be used to manage tomato late blight disease but susceptible to other diseases, therefore, a call to breed for multiple disease resistant varieties.

Author(s): Akida I. Meya, Delphina P. Mamiro* and Paul Kusolwa

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