Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Chisinau, Moldova
The difference in the resistance of two Moldovan tomato varieties to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ was determined using nested-PCR analysis on DNA extracted from individual plants by the boiling express method. Two important conclusions were drawn as a result of the study. Firstly, the period of mass fruit ripening is the most suitable period for the molecular detection of phytoplasma presence in tomato plants for assessing the resistance of varieties. Secondly, a total of 11–12 plants of each variety is sufficient for obtaining statistically significant results at this period of the tomato growth.
‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’, tomato, susceptibility, molecular detection, optimal timing and sampling
