Wageningen, The Netherlands
March 30, 2007
Source: The
Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)
 Tomato
growers are likely to soon be able to cultivate new tomato
varieties without having to use pesticides against grey mould
(Botrytis cinerea). This is the conclusion of the STW-sponsored
thesis by Richard Finkers from
Wageningen
University, with which he hopes to earn his doctorate on 3
April 2007. Finkers designed highly efficient methods whereby
tomato varieties can be resistant to grey mould. The leading
company De Ruiter Seeds
is already applying these methods in its breeding programme.
Finkers started off with wild tomato accessions that were
resistant to grey mould. When crossing the resistant wild tomato
Solanum habrochaites LYC4 with the susceptible S. lycopersicum
cv. Moneymaker, he identified two areas with resistant genes in
the DNA.
This, however, did not explain all the variations in resistance.
With this in mind, Finkers next made a step-by-step scan of the
entire genome of the wild tomato to identify locations that have
an effect on resistance. Ten areas were found that accommodated
resistance factors against grey mould. DNA-markers were then
developed for each area to be able to track the presence of each
resistance factor in breeding programmes.
Resistant tomatoes for sale
With help of the DNA-markers, the
identified areas can now be intentionally introgressed in the
breeding programmes of De Ruiter Seeds, a Dutch company with a
global reputation in the field. Using the DNA-markers, it
expects to market new tomatoes that are resistant to grey mould
in the near future. The new varieties will mean tomato growers
will have to devote far less resources – or perhaps none at all
– to combating B. cinerea.
An additional benefit of these new tomatoes is that they will be
more suitable for closed glasshouse cultivation. This new type
of glasshouse has a higher atmospheric humidity that actually
increases the chance of grey mould activity. By providing tomato
varieties resistant to grey mould, De Ruiter Seeds will fill a
worldwide need that has long been around.
The research was partly financed by STW (the Technology and
Sciences Association) and De Ruiter Seeds. As the developed
knowledge obtained from this research has been patented, and
therefore both protected and made accessible.
Doctorate: 3 April 2007, Wageningen University, Plant
Sciences Plant Breeding and Phytopathology.
For more information, contact: Richard Finkers, +31 (0)317 48 41
65,
richard.finkers@wur.nl
Tutor: prof dr. R.G.F. Visser. Co-tutors: Dr. J.A.L. van Kan and
Dr. A.W. van Heusden. |
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