Insight into tomato plant immunity to necrotrophic fungi

Abstract

The recent outbreak of the emerging pathogenic races of Fusarium wilt and early blight causing pathogens capable of infecting numerous commercial tomato varieties/cultivars highlights the need for robust disease resistance in crop plants. To breed plants with increased and robust disease resistance using quantitative disease resistance genes and resistance gene pyramids is being used to combat Fusarium wilt and early blight resistance, but broader acceptance of these methods is required to maintain resistance effectiveness. A greater understanding of the molecular basis of plant disease resistance at host levels offers further possibilities for Fusarium wilt and early blight resistance using omics approaches, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. These omics technologies are delivering us many candidate genes that might lead to increased disease resistance through genetic engineering. There are several strategies for manipulating these genes, which can come from plants, pathogens, or other organisms. However, truly durable tomato cultivars with Fusarium wilt and early blight resistance appear a doubtful prospect in the face of frequently evolving virulent populations of associated pathogens. This article discusses recent developments and future perspectives for improving tomato plants resistant to Fusarium wilt and early blight.

Keywords

• Fusarium wilt
• Early blight
• Virulent genes
• Disease resistance
• Omics approaches