Evaluation and inheritance of the Lycopersicon hirsutum resistance against potato virus Y

Summary Potato virus Y (PVY) infects most Solanaceous crops grown in Mediterranean countries in open fields and in greenhouses. Necrogenic strains, which have been isolated from diseased tomatoes in France since the 1980's, seriously cause yield and quality loss of tomato fruits. Lycopersicon hirsutum PI 247087 was found to be resistant to PVY. Virus could not be detected in inoculated leaves by ELISA and/or by back-inoculation on susceptible plants. This resistance was efficient against the 16 tested isolates or strains. Temperature and inoculum concentration did not affect its expression. All the F₁ plants of (Momor × PI 247087), (PI 134417 × PI 247087) and (PI 247087 × PI 134417) had symptom scores and ELISA values similar to those of the susceptible parents. The mechanism of resistance could be immunity-like or inhibition of virus migration from cell to cell. The resistance of L. hirsutum PI 247087 appeared to be governed by two independent recessive genes. In a few F₂ plants of (PI 134417 × PI 247087) and F₂ (Momor × PI 247087), virus was able to multiply in the inoculated leaves but could not establish a systemic infection. This finding may suggest a mechanism which interfers with the long distance migration of the virus in the plant.