Cultivar specific influence of TBSV infection on tomatoes

Abstract

In this study, the effect of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) infection on Solanum lycopersicum three cultivars and the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana were investigated. According to our studies, the degree of infection by TBSV varies depending on the cultivar of tomatoes. Cultivars Better boy and Pera are resistant, while Money maker cultivar was tolerant to TBSV infection. These results show that the plants might contain different resistance genes that selectively respond to the TBSV virus and indicate the presence of certain defence mechanisms within the species. Moreover, the analysis carried out using the Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging System (ChFI) and fluorometer showed that despite the absence of visual infection symptoms in Money maker tomato cultivars, there is an increase in the level of secondary metabolites and a slight reduction of the photosynthesis activity.