Among the plant parasitic nematodes, root knot nematode (RKN) is the most devastating in tomato growing regions. Controlling RKN mostly relies on nematicides. Since chemical application is limited due to adverse environmental effect, alternative approaches are required. Although there are some alternatives, but resistance cultivars are getting popularity in the farmer’s field because of simplicity, cost-effective and environment safety. Genes conferring resistance to RKN have already been identified followed by the introgression into elite cultivars. Currently, natural resistance genes (R genes) are used in conventional breeding programmes. Simultaneously, molecular research is going on to characterize and map the linked markers for the detected resistant phenotypes. Currently, it is a prominent threat to maintain the durability of existing R genes. However, durability of host resistance govern by co-evolution of resistance genes from plants and (a)virulence genes from nematodes. So, understanding the mechanisms underlying co-evolution is essential for the durability of R genes. Here we review the existing potential natural resistance in tomato against RKN, currently used resistance mechanisms between RKN and tomato, influential factors of durability of natural resistance genes and opportunity to get more durable resistance in tomato.

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Soybean cyst [SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe], southern root-knot [RKN, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood] and reniform nematodes [RN, Rotylenchlus reniformis (Linford and Oliveria)] are common plant-parasitic nematode species in southern US fields. Each nematode individually or collectively causes significant economic losses to field grown soybean. A subset of 120 soybean plant introductions (PIs) selected from the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection have been shown to be resistant to one or more SCN populations (HG Types); however, many of these PIs have not been screened for resistance to either RKN or RN. The
objective
of this research was to evaluate these germplasm accessions for resistance to RKN and RN. The evaluation for RKN resistance was conducted in RKN infested field plantings after potatoes near Charleston, MO in 2006 and 2007. The evaluation for RN resistance was performed in a greenhouse at Fayetteville, AR, in 2007. Out of these accessions, 64 PIs were identified with high or moderate resistance to RKN. Of these 64 lines, 24 accessions showed good resistance to both RKN and RN. These new sources of resistance to multiple nematodes will be valuable materials for soybean breeding programs to develop new resistant cultivars that can overcome yield losses caused by one or more of these nematode species.

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