Abstract

The domesticated tomato Solanum lycopersicum (L.), formerly known as Lycopersicon esculentum is a genetically well-studied crop species with high-density linkage and molecular maps based on crosses done between cultivated tomato and its distant related wild species. Wild tomato species harbor a wealth of resistance to many pathogens that have been introgressed into domesticated tomato for genetic control of diseases and pests and for improvement of many agronomic traits. The wild tomato S. peruvianum (L.) is the source of the Sw-5 gene, characterized and mapped to chromosome 9 of the tomato genome and introgressed into elite tomato germplasm, providing resistance to the tospovirus Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). TSWV has been reported to be a major problem for tomato growers in many parts of the world, which in some cases, has resulted in tomato fields having been abandoned for some time. Additionally, there are reports that new races of TSWV have evolved that overcome Sw-5. TSWV replicates in both, plant cells and in the alimentary canal cells of thrips and then transmitted to plants by this insect acting as a vector. Both, TSWV and thrips have co-evolved to infest and infect more than 1090 plants species in over 100 families, thrips becoming resistant to pesticides and easily escaping by hiding deep in plant parts. World trade has disseminated thrips all over the world and environmental pressures have forced TSWV to recombine its RNA to overcome new resistance.

Degree

PhD

College and Department

Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2009-08-27

Document Type

Dissertation

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd3174

Keywords

tospovirus, Tomato spotted wilt virus, Solanum peruvianum, plant breeding

Language

English

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