THE MINISTRY of Agriculture has developed tomato varieties that are resistant to the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), popularly known as the 'jherry curl virus'.
Errol Ennis, State Minister of Agriculture, made this announcement recently. Mr. Ennis said that since February 2000, the Ministry's Plant Protection Research and Development Unit had been collaborating with Amsa Seed Company in the United States to fight the virus.
The TYLCV, which was first detected in Jamaica in 1992, had been affecting various economically important crops.
HYBRIDS
"We have now arrived at the point in time where there are hybrids being developed, which we are hopeful will be the solution to the problem," said the Minister. Mr. Ennis said the research efforts have resulted in the development of some 33 lines of hybrid tomatoes, which show varying degrees of tolerance while some were fully resistant to the virus.
He noted that in addition to being resistant to the virus, the fruits have a longer shelf life, up to three to four weeks as opposed to the current period of seven to 15 days.
An evaluation has been done to determine the number and quality of these resistant tomato lines for commercial production, and a small number of seeds is expected to be made available by November this year, Mr. Ennis said.
