Scientists Discover Tomato Gene that Boosts Resistance Against Bacterial Wilt

Experts from Yichun University in China discovered that SlWRKY75 plays a crucial role in helping tomatoes fight bacterial wilt, a devastating disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. The study, published in Frontiers of Plant Science, provides new insights into how this gene enhances disease resistance, offering potential pathways for developing stronger, more resilient tomato varieties.

In this study, the researchers observed that the SlWRKY75-overexpressing tomato lines show enhanced resistance to bacterial wilt. The generated lines show improved growth, elevated activity of key antioxidant enzymes, increased jasmonic acid (JA) accumulation, and upregulation of genes involved in JA biosynthesis and signaling. Additionally, the edited lines also showed decreased levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2–), and salicylic acid (SA) and decreased expression of SA synthesis-related and signal response-related genes.

Further analysis confirmed that SlWRKY75 interacts with SlMYC2 to activate defense pathways that improve hormone signaling and antioxidant defense in tomato immunity. The study concludes that SlWRKY75 could serve as a promising target for breeding bacterial wilt-resistant tomato cultivars for future disease management strategies.

For more information, read the abstract from Frontiers of Plant Science.