α-Tomatine as Potential Disease Resistance Marker in Solanum Lycopersicum (Mill.)

α-Tomatine, the tomato defense saponin is an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, reducer of LDL cholesterol and anticarcinogenic. Estimation of α-tomatine in Solanum lycopersicum (Mill.) infected with Meloidogyne incognita revealed a 3 fold increase in root of resistant cultivars compared to the susceptible. This was accompanied by concomitant increase in level of α-tomatine in shoot. On maturity of ffuits ffom green to red, the α-tomatine concentration declined rapidly in resistant than susceptible cultivars. Fruit α-tomatine level was considered safe. The root population of nematode and α-tomatine concentration exhibited a good correlation (r = 68). α-Tomatine proved to be an excellent resistance marker in tomato against M. incognita.