Test for the resistance inducer ASM as an alternative control for chlorosis of tomato caused by tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and possible effects on the vector Bemisia tabaci biotype B

Abstract

The Crop of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important source of income for the country (IBGE, 2010) with 64.880 hectares and a production of 4.091.825 tonnes of tomatoes, which ranks Brazil as the 8th largest tomato producer in the world (FAO, 2012). The tomato crops are often attacked by a range of pathogens that can disturb the productivity quantitatively and qualitatively. Among these phytopathogens, the viruses are usually known by not having real and lasting techniques to avoid the effects of this pathogen, or are costly to be applied. In 2006, a new virus disease was detected in tomato caused by Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), which is already present in important regions of the country and the world that cultivates this vegetable. Belonging to the genus Crinivirus the ToCV colonizes the phloem of the plant and induces an interveinal chlorosis on basal leaves, as the main symptom in tomato. The virus is transmitted in a semipersistent mode, by Bemisia tabaci biotype B. At the moment there are not alternatives for ToCV control, except the elimination of inoculum sources and the use of insecticides for vector control. Currently the control principle based on immunization allocates part of its efforts to induce plant resistance to pathogens. Besides being a less adverse alternative to the environment, induction resistance has demonstrated significant and positive results of its efficiency. Based on these studies the aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the resistance inducer Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) in the control of tomato chlorosis caused by ToCV. Additionally we intend to investigate the effect of ASM behavior vector Bemisia tabaci biotype B.