Impact of ‘candidatus phytoplasma solani’ presence on fruit quality of different moldovan tomato varieties

The distribution of tomato plants infected with Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ and the pathogen concentration in fruits of four Moldovan tomato varieties were determined using nested and quantitative PCR methods, respectively. In all the studied tomato varieties a correlation between the phytoplasma concentration in fruits and their quality was found. A partial correlation between the quantification of Ca. P solani’ in tomato fruits of different varieties and phytoplasma distribution in the field was also verified. The multiple approach was useful for studying both the identity and the effect of Ca. P solani’ in tomato, assessing susceptibility of the tomato genotypes for the presence of this phytoplasma.