Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Evaluation of Resilient Wild Tomato Accessions for Resistance against Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) in Tanzania

Humphrey Ndossi*, Never Zekeya, Khalfan Kiondo, Robert Abraham and Ernest Mbega

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a main horticultural crop for income and nutrition to urban and peri-urban communities. Invasion by Tuta absoluta has caused high damage and loss threatening livelihood of farmers in Tanzania. Host resistance mechanism of tomato landraces own unique physiological and biochemical traits that can fight against pest attack. This study screened twenty-one landrace varieties for their vigorous and resistance against T. absoluta in three major tomatoes growing zones of Tanzania. Findings showed that landraces had high growth rates resulting in many leaves per plant averaging 29.04 ± 1.12 compared to improved cultivar (Tengeru 97) that possessed 18.75 ± 0.62 leaves/plant. Landrace varieties yielded high tomato fruits averaging 18.82 ± 1.93 t/ha and 91.66% of marketable yield in contrast to improved variety that yielded 8.60 ± 3.50 t/ha and 19.73% of marketable yield in Southern of Tanzania. Again, tomato landraces lasted longer for 35.53 ± 1.81 days compared to Tengeru 97 (check) that lasted for 16.65 ± 0.36 days at room temperature 25 ± 0.9. These findings revealed that Tanzanian landraces reserve vigorous traits for yield and defence against pest, hence suggest the cultivation without fertilisation and pesticides for safe and sustainable production of tomato to improve income and health of farmers in Tanzania.

Published Date: 2022-02-04; Received Date: 2022-01-04