Bayer launches tomato varieties with multi-gene resistance to fast-spreading virus
By Kass Digital
Bayer has introduced new tomato varieties with multi-gene resistance to the fast-mutating Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), a major threat to global tomato production, especially in controlled environments.
ToBRFV is a highly infectious virus that affects tomato and pepper crops, causing brown, wrinkled (rugose) patches on fruit and leading to significant yield losses.
The virus, first identified in Israel in 2014, has since spread worldwide and is difficult to control due to its ability to persist on tools, hands, clothing, and surfaces for extended periods.
The new hybrids, which will be rolled out this year across major glasshouse tomato segments, combine multiple resistance genes to protect against both standard and resistance-breaking ToBRFV strains, Bayer said on Tuesday.
“Resistance-breaking ToBRFV remains a long-term threat to grower incomes, so they need longer-lasting solutions without sacrificing produce quality or agronomic performance,” said Javier Quintero, global lead for tomato R&D at Bayer’s Crop Science division.
The company tested two groups of tomato hybrids under high virus pressure, one exposed to the standard ToBRFV strain and the other to a newer, resistance-breaking isolate.
Non-resistant control plants showed severe symptoms within three weeks, while Bayer’s new hybrids remained healthy.
Initial commercial releases include De Ruiter’s red beef tomato Ferreira and pink beef Futumaru.
Hybrids for large and medium truss, cocktail, cherry plum, and other beef segments are expected in 2025.
While tailored for glasshouse systems in Europe and North America, the new varieties may have future relevance for emerging markets such as here in the country, where farmers increasingly adopt greenhouse farming to serve urban and export markets.
Tomato industry in the country—worth an estimated KES 23 billion—is frequently hit by viral diseases such as ToBRFV and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV).
ToBRFV outbreaks, already reported in the region, could disrupt smallholder incomes and national food supply if left unchecked.
Bayer said its hybrids were developed using conventional breeding techniques, not genetic modification(GMO)
