Effect of low-dose gamma irradiation on seed-borne transmission of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in tomato

TL;DR

Low-dose gamma irradiation can reduce tomato brown rugose fruit virus in seeds while improving plant growth.

Contribution

Demonstrates that 15 Gy gamma irradiation effectively disinfects seeds and boosts plant traits without harming growth.

Findings

15 Gy gamma irradiation significantly reduced ToBRFV and improved germination and chlorophyll levels.

Combining 15 Gy with sodium hypochlorite further reduced the virus but lowered germination rates.

20 Gy irradiation harmed plant growth and was less effective for viral suppression.

Abstract

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), a highly virulent tobamovirus, poses a major threat to global tomato production by overcoming host resistance and traditional control measures. This study evaluates the efficacy of low-dose gamma irradiation (10, 15, and 20 Gy) in reducing ToBRFV contamination in tomato seeds. Contaminated seeds were irradiated and assessed for germination rate, chlorophyll content, stem diameter, and viral accumulation with RT-qPCR. The potential synergistic effect of combining 15 Gy gamma irradiation with 2.5 % sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was also investigated. Results revealed that 15 Gy significantly improved germination, enhanced chlorophyll levels, and increased stem thickness, while substantially reducing viral replication. In contrast, 20 Gy had detrimental effects on both plant growth and viral suppression. The combination of 15 Gy and NaOCl further decreased viral accumulation, though at the cost of reduced germination rates. Applying 15 Gy confers dual benefits, including effective seed disinfection and improved host resistance. It shows strong potential for use in integrated tomato disease management in greenhouse and field conditions.

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