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Research Project: Basic and Applied Approaches for Pest Management in Vegetable Crops

Location: Vegetable Research

Title: Role of glandular trichomes and terpene diversity on tomato resistance against the sweetpotato whitefly

Author
item RUTZ, THIAGO - Auburn University
item PIZZO, JESSICA - Auburn University
item CREMONEZ, PAULO - Auburn University
item COOLING, TIMOTHY - Auburn University
item Simmons, Alvin
item KARTOWIKROMO, KIMBERLY - Auburn University
item HAMID, AHMED - Auburn University
item OJEDA, ANN - Auburn University
item RODRIGUES, CAMILA - Auburn University
item DA SILVA, ANDRE - Auburn University

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2025
Publication Date: 9/8/2025
Citation: Rutz, T., Pizzo, J.S., Cremonez, P., Cooling, T., Simmons, A.M., Kartowikromo, K.Y., Hamid, A.M., Ojeda, A.S., Rodrigues, C., Da Silva, A.L. 2025. Role of glandular trichomes and terpene diversity on tomato resistance against the sweetpotato whitefly. HortScience. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18688-25.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18688-25

Interpretive Summary: Whiteflies (especially the sweetpotato whitefly) are major pests of tomato and many other crops. Wild tomato have hairs on leaves that my help protect them from insect pests. A study was conduct to identify some sourcees of resistance in wild tomato that may help scientists improve cultivated tomatoes. We found that among several wild types of tomatoes as compared with several types of commercial tomatoes, the wild types were attacked by few whiteflies and these resistant plants had leaf hairs that produced relatively high level of certain chemicals that may repel the adult whiteflies. This study highlights the breeding potential of wild tomatoes for developing pest-resistant commercial cultivars and advancing sustainable pest management in tomato cultivation.

Technical Abstract: Whiteflies (mainly Bemisia tabaci) are major agricultural pests that significantly reduce tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) yields, particularly cultivars with no or limited natural resistance. This study explores whitefly resistance mechanisms in wild tomato accessions that are recognized for their high glandular trichome densities and unique sesquiterpene production. Through a field experiment in a complete randomized block design, we evaluated natural whitefly populations, trichome density, and terpene profiles across accessions of wild S. habrochaites (G29258, PI126449, PI127826, PI134418, PI209978), S. galapagense (LA1401), and S. chilense (LA1932), and cultivars of S. lycopersicum (LA3475, Cherry Bomb, Apple Yellow, Patsy, and Mountain Man). The wild accessions exhibited notably lower whitefly densities of nymphs; the low populations were closely associated with high glandular trichome presence and increased levels of sesquiterpenes terpinolene, a-zingiberene, 9-hydroxy-10,11-epoxy-zingiberene, and 9-hydroxy-zingiberene, which may act as natural repellents. Multivariate analyses further support these findings, revealing an apparent clustering of terpene-rich wild accessions with enhanced whitefly resistance. These results emphasize the critical role of glandular trichomes and their secreted terpenes in natural pest resistance and distinguish wild accessions from cultivars. This study highlights the breeding potential of wild tomatoes for developing pest-resistant commercial cultivars and advancing sustainable pest management in tomato cultivation.