Genetic Improvement of Solanaceaes Against Stress

Executive Summary

Tomato is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide. South America constitutes the main center of origin of the cultivated tomato and of various wild species. Different characteristics have been obtained from wild species that have been transferred to cultivated tomato varieties. However, wild tomato germplasm has generally been little used by countries that constitute their center of origin, including Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Also, there are different problems associated with the crop that have not been adequately addressed, such as abiotic diseases and stresses, which cause serious reductions in the yields of this crop.
The purpose of the project was to generate germplasm collections of wild tomatoes and characterize them to address the main problems that affect the crop, as well as the challenges to be faced by climate change in Bolivia, Peru and Chile. The project had the following components: a) Generate germplasm collections of the wild species of S. chilense, S. peruvianum, S. pimpinellifolium, S. lycopersicum var. cerasiform, among others; b) To characterize germplasm collections considering morphological, agronomic, physiological, molecular and economic aspects related to their tolerance to water stress, high temperature and pathogen infection; c) Generate a bank of candidate genes associated with tolerance to water stress for use as markers in the selection of tolerant materials in genetic improvement programs; d) Develop a predictive model that describes the effect of climate change on tomato cultivation in the three countries; and e) Disseminate the effects of climate change on tomato cultivation as well as the use of wild genetic resources for the benefit of agriculture.

The technological solution

Climate change and variability will have various effects in terms of water availability, temperature increases, and the emergence of new pests and diseases. This will affect crops, so adaptation and mitigation strategies need to be developed. One of the strategies is to access the great genetic diversity that is concentrated in the centers of origin. In the case of tomato, these are found in Bolivia, Chile and Peru, so the project collected and characterized numerous accessions of wild species of the genus Solanum and studied their value as a source of genes for tolerance to drought, high temperatures, and diseases. The information generated in the project has potential use for the development of new tomato varieties with improved disease resistance, but also with tolerance to abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity and high temperatures. Likewise, the results constitute the basis for the establishment of genetic improvement programs that can use the existing genetic variability in wild species.

Results

Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries are the hundreds of researchers, professionals, technicians and undergraduate and graduate students who participated in the project activities and / or had access to its results through workshops, courses, presentations at conferences and publications. Genetic improvement programs could also benefit by accessing the collections of wild materials collected and characterized in the project and which exhibit genes for drought tolerance, high temperatures and disease resistance.

Potentially and in the long term, thousands of tomato producers in the region could benefit when they access the results of tomato genetic improvement programs, using the accessions characterized in the project.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors