Assessment of tomato genotypes against the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and Tomato leaf curl virus under controlled condition

The tomato leaf curl viruses (ToLCVs) causing tomato leaf curl disease (ToLCD) in tomatoes is one of the significant constraints for tomato production worldwide and is transmitted by the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. The ToLCVs, with the emergence of several recombinant variants and B. tabaci with changes in its capability in pathogen transmission, are reported all over the Indian subcontinent. Tomato genotypes resistant to B. tabaci and ToLCV are vital for sustainable control of ToLCD. In the current study, the level of resistance/susceptibility of tomato genotypes to B. tabaci and ToLCV incidence under greenhouse conditions were studied, and promising entries were assessed for antixenosis (non-preference) and antibiosis resistance against B. tabaci. Greenhouse screening by mass release of ToLCV-virulent whiteflies revealed that genotypes EC-520,078 and EC-620,389 (p = < 0.0001) recorded highly resistant reactions for whitefly infestation and ToLCV incidence. The adult settling assay revealed that the genotypes EC-520,078, EC-620,389, EC-315,477, and EC-620,401 (p = < 0.0001) were less preferred by whiteflies. Tests on fecundity, nymphal emergence, nymphal development, and population buildup were conducted to infer the antibiosis effect of the tomato genotypes against B. tabaci. The genotype EC-520,078 (p = < 0.0001) recorded the lowest number of eggs, EC-620,389 (p = < 0.0001) with the lowest nymphal emergence, and EC-520,078, EC-620,389, and EC-620,401 (p = < 0.0001) registered the lowest nymphal development. The F2 generation in the population buildup study was significantly lower in EC-520,078, followed by EC-620,389 and EC-631,364 (p = < 0.0001). The identified resistant sources could be used to develop resistant genotypes against whiteflies and ToLCV in tomatoes.