Efficacy of cell line selection approach against Phytophthora nicotianae var parasitica (Dastur) Waterhouse causing buckeye rot of tomato

In the present study, attempts were made to develop tolerant lines of tomato cv Solan Lalima against the pathogen Phytophthora nicotianae var parasitica causing buckeye rot, using in vitro selection approach. The highest callus survival and maximum shoot regeneration were attained on MS medium fortified with 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l Kn for cotyledon explants and 0.5 mg/l NAA with 1.0 mg/l BAP for leaf explants respectively. The proliferated callus was further exposed to selection pressure containing MS medium enriched with fungal culture filtrate (25%) that revealed 18.32 per cent mean callus survival and 34.59 per cent average shoot induction. The screened putative tomato tolerant somaclones against the targeted pathogen might be further subjected to molecular and agronomic evaluations including multi-location trials. Therefore, the strategy can be utilized as a promising selection method to generate disease-resistant plants of this commercially important crop.