Use of endophytic microorganisms for the management of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus in tomato crop (Solamun lycopersicum)

Abstract

The Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is one of the main pathogens affecting tomato crops in Mexico. Despite efforts to prevent its spread, it is nearly impossible due to its low transmission percentage through seeds and its high susceptibility to being transmitted through cultural practices. Therefore, alternative management strategies are being sought. This research aimed to determine the effect of endophytic microorganisms applied to the soil on tomato plants infected with ToBRFV. A tomato plant was used as an experimental unit, with 13 repetitions per treatment. The treatments on tomato plants infected with ToBRFV were Beauveria peruviencis, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Pseudomonas sp. And water as a sick witness; a treatment of healthy plants treated with water was also included as an absolute control. The response variables were plant height, fresh weight of the aerial part and root and severity (two evaluations). Measurements were analyzed using Tukey-Kramer HSD tests for each pair. Significant differences were found Beauveria peruviencis, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Pseudomonas sp. and water as a sick witness. The treatment that most favored the development of infected plants (79% taller and 15% heavier than infected mock) and reduced its severity was B. peruviensis, followed by Pseudomonas sp. On the other hand, the treatment that resulted in the least plant development (31% smaller than infected mock) and even increased the severity of the infection was T. longibrachiatum.