Vol. 10, Special Issue 1, Part B (2026)

Tomato Leaf Curl Virus (TLCV) is one of the most destructive viral diseases of tomato, causing severe yield losses in tropical and subtropical regions. The present study was undertaken to screen tomato genotypes for resistance to TLCV and to assess the impact of disease severity on yield under natural field conditions. A total of 74 tomato genotypes, comprising advanced breeding lines and hybrids, were evaluated during Kharif 2023 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, following a randomized block design with three replications. Disease reaction was assessed under natural epiphytotic conditions based on disease incidence (%) and percent disease index (PDI), while yield-related traits such as number of fruits per plant, yield per plant, and average fruit weight were recorded at maturity. Considerable variability was observed among genotypes for both TLCV incidence and disease severity. Disease incidence ranged from 0 to 74%, while PDI varied from 0.00 to 50.00, indicating substantial genetic diversity for resistance. A majority of genotypes exhibited zero or negligible disease incidence and low PDI, confirming predominance of resistant genotypes. Frequency distribution analysis revealed a highly skewed distribution towards resistant classes, whereas scatter plot analysis indicated a positive association between disease incidence and severity. Several genotypes exhibited complete resistance along with stable yield performance. The identified resistant genotypes represent valuable genetic resources for direct cultivation in TLCV-prone areas and for use as donor parents in tomato resistance breeding programmes.