Bayer launches tomatoes with multiple resistance to ToBRFV

Bayer has announced the launch of new tomato varieties with multiple genes for resistance to tomato rough streak virus (ToBRFV). The cultivars will hit the market in 2025 and promise greater protection against virus mutations.

Unlike the first generations, which brought resistance from a single source, the new cultivars combine multiple genes that interfere in different phases of the plant-virus interaction. The strategy extends the durability of resistance, according to Bayer's Crop Science division.

Two greenhouse trials tested four resistant hybrids under high viral pressure. One group was inoculated with the standard ToBRFV strain. The other was inoculated with a mutation capable of breaking previous resistance. In both cases, the non-resistant tomatoes showed severe symptoms at 14 and 21 days. The new hybrids with multiple resistance showed no symptoms.

Among the first cultivars to use this technology are the red beef Ferreira and pink beef Futumaru tomatoes from the De Ruiter brand. New hybrids with stacked resistance will also be launched for the Large Truss, Medium Truss, Cocktail and Cherry Plum Truss segments.

Javier Quintero, global tomato research and development leader at Bayer, says the new cultivars maintain quality and agronomic performance even under attack from ToBRFV variants. He believes growers will see similar results to those in the trials.