EVALUATING FUNGAL DISEASE TOLERANCE IN TRANSGENIC TOMATOES

WE HAVE GENERATED OVER 60 TRANSGENIC TOMATO TRANSFORMATS WHICH EXPRESS NOVEL CHITINASE EITHER INTRA- OR EXTRACELLULARLY. HERE WE PLANT TO SCREEN SEEDLINGS AND FRUIT DERIVED FROM THESE PRIMARY TRANSFORMANTS FOR TOLERANCE/RESISTANCE TO A RANGE OF IMPORTANT FUNGAL PATHOGENS WHICH CAUSE SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN THE PRODUCTION OF FRUIT. DISEASE SCREENS WILL BE PERFORMED INITIALLY IN THE LABORATORY UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS FOR THE FRUIT ROT AGENTS BOTRYTIS CINEREA AND ALTERNARIA ALTERNATA, IN THE GREENHOUSE FOR THE FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM RACES INVOLVED IN WILTS AND CORTICAL ROTS, AND IN THE FIELD FOR POWDERY MILDEW.