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Tomato MVR - Philippines

Project:	MULTIPLE VIRUS RESISTANT (MVR) TOMATO

Introduction:	Tomato is one of the most economically important vegetable crops in the world. In Indonesia and the Philippines, it is an ingredient in many dishes and is a good source of vitamins and other nutrients. Tomato ranks second only to eggplant in production area in the Philippines and fifth in Indonesia. In both countries, tomato production is dominated by small-scale farmers who favor this crop for its relatively high cash value which contributes significantly to their income. Tomato yields in Indonesia and the Philippines are below the world average, in part due to the damage caused by three tomato viruses: the white fly-transmitted geminivirus (Tomato Leaf Curl Virus (ToLCV), Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)) and the Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV). Infections by these viruses result in 50 to 100% yield reduction, threatening the livelihoods of small-scale tomato farmers. The insects that spreads these viruses can be treated by spraying with pesticides, but spraying has limited success since crops can be re-infected by insects in neighboring fields. Farmers therefore apply pesticides about 1 to 2 times per week, with doses of several pesticides per application. Tomatoes with naturally occurring resistance to tomato leaf curl viruses have been identified in several wild tomato species and transferred to elite tomato breeding lines by the World Vegetable Center (AVRDC). This resistance may be bred by traditional means into locally important tomato varieties for Indonesia and the Philippines. No commercial tomato varieties are resistant to CMV. However, a genetic engineering approach can be used to confer resistance to CMV. This technology can then be backcrossed into locally adapted varieties preferred by farmers. This ABSPII project will assist Indonesian and Philippine partner institutions to develop locally-adapted tomato varieties with multiple-virus resistance. In addition, ABSPII will assist with regulatory approval and intellectual property licensing in order to make the multiple-virus-resistant tomato seeds commercially available to small-scale farmers.

Project Manager:	Desiree Hautea, Regional Coordinator, Southeast Asia

Participating Countries :	Indonesia, Philippines

Term:	2003-2008

Partners:	Bogor Agricultural University (BAU), Indonesia East West Seeds, Philippines Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development (ICABIOGRAD), Indonesia Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute (IVEGRI), Indonesia International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA) - Southeast Asia Center, Philippines University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB) - Chancellor’s Office and Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), Philippines Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), USA World Vegetable Center (AVRDC), Taiwan

Technology:	Viruses are encapsulated by a coat protein (CP) that acts as a protective cage for the virus. It has been well documented in many plants that introduction of a specific viral coat protein can render plant resistant to the target virus. The CMV coat protein gene from Taiwan has been tested and is effective when transferred into tomato. When the CP is transferred to the crop of interest, it triggers a defense response within the plant. A two-gene version of the CP technology is available and included in the planned strategy. The coat protein gene(s) and naturally occurring resistance genes will be transferred to varieties grown in Indonesia and the Philippines and combined with the non-bioengineered resistance to whitefly-transmitted tomato leaf curl viruses to confer multiple resistance against these damaging viruses.

Project Status:	Available technologies have been assessed. Negotiations have been initiated to access the different technologies. Initial work has shown to be successful in Taiwan, where virus resistance was transferred to tomato and has undergone greenhouse and field testing for safety and efficacy in collaboration with the World Vegetable Center (AVRDC). CMV-CP and tomato leaf curl virus resistance technologies from AVRDC have been initially incorporated by crossing to selected Indonesian and Philippine genotypes. Breeding work continues in both countries. Diversity studies of the two target viruses are nearly complete. MTAs have been signed between AVRDC and partner institutions. Bioengineered and non-bioengineered materials have been transferred from AVRDC to Indonesia; non-bioengineered materials have been transferred to the Philippines; Ex-ante impact studies in both countries have been completed. Results point to affirmation of stakeholders’ benefits.

Expected Benefits :	Significant increase in knowledge and information about the diversity of CMV and tomato leaf curl viruses in Indonesia and the Philippines for better virus control. Access to advanced plant biotechnology. Improved capacity of national breeding institutions to integrate genetic engineering technology into their breeding programs. Strengthen partnerships between international and national research centers. Facilitation of public-private partnerships and South-South partnership. Less pesticide use to control whiteflies and aphid vectors. Increased yield due to decrease damage by the virus. This should result in increased income to farmers, increased supply of tomato, and lower costs to the consumers.

Tomato MVR - Philippines

Economic Importance:	During the period 1990-1997, vegetables contributed 8.4% to 9.4% to total agricultural output of the Philippines while using only 5% of the country’s agricultural area. Of the 43 major vegetable crops in the Philippines, tomato contributed 30% to 60% of the total value of vegetable production. This contribution has decreased due to the incidence of viruses and other pests. The major disease pathogens of tomato include bacteria, fungi, nematodes and viruses. Viruses contribute the most to economic loss in the tomato industry. The tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is considered the most important tomato virus disease in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. Its occurrence in the Philippines has dramatically increased in recent years. During episodes of heavy infection, almost 90-100% of the tomato plants can be infected resulting in 50-90% yield reduction. Sources of resistance have been identified but these are usually strain-specific.

Partners Within the Country:	Benguet State University (BSU) East West Seeds, Philippines (non-bioengineered component) International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA), South East Asia Center University of the Philippines Los Baños- Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB) University of the Philippines Los Baños- National Crop Protection Center (UPLB-NCPC)

Planned Activities and Milestones:	Methodology for virus screening will be refined and standardized among partners. Backcrossing of the CMV resistance trait and intercrossing to combine bioengineered CMV-CP and non-bioengineered T(Y)LCV resistance in Philippine varieties will be continued. Methodology for virus screening will be refined and standardized among partners. Sequencing of local CMV and tomato leaf curl virus isolates and diversity analysis will be completed; sequences comparison will be made among virus isolates from Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines. Tests will be completed to assess the effectiveness of the bioengineered and the non-bioengineered sources against the local isolates of the virus.. Conduct contained field trials to test efficacy and biosafety of CMV-resistant tomatoes. Work toward commercializing MULTIPLE VIRUS RESISTANT tomatoes.