As part of the activities under Work Package 2 (WP2) of the POMATO project, led by AGROSAVIA, a field visit was conducted in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia, focusing on tomato-producing areas in the municipalities of Pacho and San Cayetano. The main objective of this visit was to identify and characterize diseases associated with vascular wilt in tomato crops, which are increasingly affecting production in the region.
Seven farms were visited, each representing different management practices and environmental conditions. The exchange of knowledge between farmers and scientists about the management practices and main diseases they experience was an excellent opportunity to investigate the phytosanitary problems affecting tomato crop. In particular, it was identified that after whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) damage, vascular wilt diseases are considered to be the greatest threat to tomato production in the area. Symptoms such as leaf yellowing, wilting, and plant collapse were recurrent across the visited fields.
In total, approximately 40 samples of tomato plants showing clear symptoms of vascular wilt were collected. These samples are currently being processed and characterized at the laboratories of the Tibaitatá Research Center of AGROSAVIA. The aim is to identify the pathogens associated with the observed symptoms, with a particular focus on Ralstonia solanacearum, one of the target bacteria of the POMATO project.
This field activity is aligned with POMATO’s broader goal of developing molecular tools for the identification of resistance genes and understanding the epidemiology of quarantine pathogens affecting tomato and potato crops. The data collected will contribute to the genomic and transcriptomic analyses planned within WP2, supporting the development of sustainable and effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
Importantly, farmers in the region expressed a strong need for technologies that enable early detection of pathogens and for solutions that are both sustainable and adapted to the real conditions of their crops. Their feedback reinforces the relevance of POMATO’s multi-actor approach and the importance of co-developing tools that respond to the challenges faced by growers in Latin America.
Written by: Mauricio Soto Suárez (AGROSAVIA)
