Biology subjects

Eybishitz, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Eybishitz, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Assessment of Genetic Resources to Major Tomato Diseases: Insights from wild germplasm and public S. lycopersicum collections

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production is severely impacted by biotic stresses, leading to significant yield losses. Developing genetically resistant cultivars presents a sustainable alternative to chemical control, which is often costly and ineffective against evolving pathogens. This study utilized molecular markers to assess genetic resistance to key tomato diseases, including Fusarium wilt, late blight, bacterial wilt, root-knot nematode, Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV), and Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV), across 964 tomato accessions comprising both wild germplasm and cultivated varieties. Wild germplasm exhibited the highest frequencies, with S. peruvianum identified as a rich reservoir of resistance loci. Markers associated with TYLCV (Ty-1/3, Ty2) and Fusarium wilt (I2(OH)) were particularly prevalent in wild species. The potential for gene pyramiding potential was evident, with some wild accessions carrying up to six resistance loci. In contrast, resistance loci were limited in Solanum lycopersicum. Two S. lycopersicum germplasm collections were screened: a geographically representative collection from four Southeast Asian national genebanks and a genetically representative core collection from global public genebanks. The highest resistance frequencies in S. lycopersicum were observed for bacterial wilt-associated markers SLM12-2 and SLM12-10. However, the overall scarcity of resistance alleles in S. lycopersicum emphasizes the need for further introgression of resistance genes from wild relatives. This study provides valuable genetic insights into tomato germplasm for combating biotic stress, forming a foundation for sustainable breeding strategies to enhance disease resistance and safeguard global tomato production.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Identification of QTL for reproductive success under heat stress conditions through a tomato MAGIC population

Heat stress threatens tomato productivity by reducing pollen viability, fruit set, and consequently, overall yield. While heat-tolerant traits are predominantly found in wild tomatoes, the introgression of heat tolerance into elite cultivars remains challenging due to linkage drag. To address this issue, the World Vegetable Center developed a Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population, derived from crosses between four heat-tolerant and disease-resistant cultivars. Phenotypic evaluations revealed that fruit number accounted for approximately 57% of reproductive output, making it a critical selection index for heat tolerance. A total of 16,350 SNPs were developed for the MAGIC population, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 50 QTLs linked to the evaluated traits. Notably, three QTLs on chromosomes 1, 3 and 11 emerged as hubs influencing multiple reproductive traits, underscoring their critical role in heat tolerance. SL4.0CH11_47205149 associated with fruit number was converted into a Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) marker and validated for its significant association with yield. The identification of key QTLs and the prioritization of fruit number as a primary determinant of reproductive success offer valuable insights for targeted breeding strategies. HighlightNumber of fruits is crucial for selecting heat-tolerant tomatoes in open fields. A marker linked to high fruit production helps develop high-yielding tomatoes better suited to withstand climate change.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

The response of multi-disease and insect-resistant tomato lines to the accumulation of TYLCV, a whitefly-transmitted virus

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a major vegetable crop grown worldwide for its culinary versatility and nutritional richness. The whitefly-transmitted Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) poses a significant threat to its cultivation. The management strategies for this disease include controlling the virus and/or the vector. The multi-disease and insect-resistant lines developed by the World Vegetable Centre (WorldVeg) contain Ty-1/Ty-3 genes for virus resistance and WF2-10 and WF3-09 genes for whitefly resistance. This study evaluates the efficacy of suppressing virus accumulation in multi-disease and insect-resistant tomato lines compared to Ty-resistant or whitefly-resistant lines and a susceptible check. Preference bioassays, controlled inoculation with viruliferous whiteflies, and acylsugar quantification revealed that multi-disease and insect-resistant lines, developed at WorldVeg, had significantly higher acylsugar concentration and were less preferred by the whitefly adults for settling and whiteflies had high adult mortality. The multi-disease and insect-resistant lines also showed less severe disease symptoms and reduced virus accumulation over time when compared to Ty-resistant, whitefly-resistant, and susceptible check. The findings reveal that the multi-disease and insect-resistant lines are superior in mitigating the threat posed by TYLCV compared to TYLCV-resistant lines. These results underscore the potential of combined virus and vector resistance in tomatoes as a key element of Integrated Pest Management strategies against whitefly-transmitted TYLCV, offering a sustainable solution for safeguarding tomato production.

plant biology↗