Genetics of resistance to bacterial wilt in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Inheritance studies on resistance to bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.) in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) from six generations (parents, F-1, F-2, BC1 and BC2) of four crosses involving resistant and susceptible parents were conducted during summer season of 2002. The study has clearly indicated the involvement of more than one interacting genes. Further the study also indicated the role of additive and dominance components and their interactions in the expression of bacterial wilt resistance in tomato. Therefore, selection in early segregating generations would be effective in case of crosses having preponderance of additive [d] and additive x additive [i] effects while crosses having dominance effects, selection after few generations of selfing would be more fruitful for the development of bacterial wilt resistant varieties/hybrids in tomato.