Effects of Natural Virus Infection on Field-Grown Eight Tomato Genotypes (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Abstract

Tomato is the leading fruit vegetable in the world with over 177.04 metric tons of world production on a yearly basis but the production is generally more hindered by diseases than pests, as it is grown all through the world. This study evaluated the effects of natural virus infection on eight tomato genotypes, carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University Oye-Ekiti. The eight tomato genotypes were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Data collected were averaged and analyzed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 9.4) and significant means separated by the Tukey test. The results showed that a percentage increase in disease incidence among the genotypes was directly associated with decreasing yield but was not significant. Therefore, the viral disease incidence is associated with a reduction in the fruit yield of tomatoes but some tomato genotypes like; F1 COBRA26 and “TIWANTIWA” with high seedling vigor had significant fruit yield under natural virus infection on the field.