BREEDING TOMATOES FOR PROCESSING IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Horticultural Research Institute initiated a processing tomato (Lycoparsicon esculentum Mill.) breeding program to meet the needs of the industry for suitable cultivars that are resistant to economically important diseases and pests.

Race 1 of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith, the causative organism of bacterial wilt is a serious-problem in the Transvaal Lowveld where 60% of the processing tomatoes are produced.
Many fields are infected and cannot be planted to susceptible cultivars.
Highly resistant lines that are also resistant to Races 1 and 2 of Fusarium oxysporum Schlect f. lycopersici (Sacc.) Synder and Hansen and Verticillium dahliae Kleb have been obtained.
These lines compare well with other cultivars in use and may be released in the near future.

Lines resistant to tomato spotted wilt virus that causes serious losses in the Stellenbosch area and occurs sporadically in the production areas to the north, have been bred.
The source of resistance was Lycopersicon peruvianum (L) Mill.
Problems with small fruit and poor quality have been overcome.
These lines are resistant to F. oxysporum Race 1 and V. dahliae.
Release as new cultivars is being considered.

Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood and Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood, resistant lines with firm fruit and resistance to F. oxysporum f. lycopersici Races 1 and 2, and V. dahliae have been obtained and may be released soon.

International Symposium on Fruit & Vegetables for Processing

J.J.B. van Zijl, S.E. Bosch, C.P.J. Coetzee

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.194.6