The issue in tomato production lies in the vulnerability of cultivated tomatoes to over 200 diseases, including fungal infections, nematodes, bacteria, and viruses, which can lead to serious economic losses.
Although old practices of using natural resistance from wild tomato varieties have been employed to enhance the resilience of cultivated tomatoes against diseases, the recently discovered Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) has overcome protective mechanisms. Emerged initially in Jordan and Israel, the tobamovirus, known as Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), poses a threat to tomato production by breaking through the dominant resistance gene Tm-2. ToBRFV has already been reported in various countries on tomatoes and peppers.
Symptoms of ToBRFV can manifest locally and systematically, causing mosaic patterns on leaves with the appearance of bubbles and periodic leaf narrowing. Tomatoes affected by this virus develop yellow markings, with necrotic and brown patches, rendering the produce unsuitable for marketing.
At an event held in late May by Vegetables by Bayer as part of showcasing their own tomato lineup during an Open House event at De Ruiter Tomato House in Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, the latest hybrids with comprehensive genetic resistance to ToBRFV across different tomato segments were presented.
"The event provided a unique opportunity to get acquainted with our modern greenhouse complex and learn about advanced seed cultivation methods and the latest achievements in De Ruiter tomato varieties development, which we are actively working on and hope to introduce this season. Our scientific teams are working diligently to breed high-quality varieties with additional protection against ToBRFV and ensure crop preservation throughout the season. Our commercial range has been focused on disease resistance, efficient agronomy, high yields, and fruit quality. Bayer's Research and Development department is diligently working on scientifically-based solutions to combat ToBRFV using multi-component genetic resistance, control measures, and thorough seed testing," shared Stephanie Poletti, Marketing Manager at Vegetables by Bayer.
As part of the tour of the Visitor Demonstration House, a tasting of new varieties took place for a personal sensory experience.
