Breeder’s perspective: Growers need tomatoes with ToBRFV resistance

By Marcel Prins, Global Head of Product Strategy at Syngenta

When Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus was first discovered in 2015, we knew it would have significant impact, and we knew we had to get started finding genetic solutions as soon as possible. At Syngenta, we take the responsibility of finding solutions seriously and worked tirelessly to introduce the first tomato variety with resistance in 2020.

Even so, as I work with growers and breeders today the question still remains: how are we going to fight this virus? It’s no simple solution; it will take combination of innovative new products and good greenhouse hygiene practices.

Don’t get me wrong, resistance is important in the fight against ToBRFV – we are working to expand our portfolio of resistant varieties every day – and I’ll always advise growers to choose resistance. Even so, there’s a misunderstanding that resistance automatically fixes the problem.

Good greenhouse hygiene is important today, and will remain important in the future, regardless of resistances introduced to the market. This means avoiding contamination in water sources, on clothing, and more. Once a greenhouse is infected, it’s incredibly time consuming and costly to remove the virus.

Start with hygienic practices and build with resistant varieties for the most effective control.

Supplement Greenhouse Hygiene with Resistant Genetics

I’ll always advise planting resistance, but even more so resistant rootstock for growers who use grafting. I would always choose rootstock: if a plant gets infected, the virus will always move first downward to the rootstock and then upward throughout the plant. If the root system is not resistant, you get a multiplication of the virus there and that’s the last thing you want. Don’t leave yield to chance.

We have four resistant rootstocks at Syngenta that perform just like non-resistant rootstocks, so you don’t have to compromise. In addition to ToBRFV resistance, these rootstocks have resistance to Verticilium, nematodes, Corky root, several races of tomato mosaic virus, and several fusarium species for well-rounded resistance.

Stronger still, is using ToBRFV-resistant rootstock in combination with a resistant scion. This is ToBRFV protection from the roots to the top of the plant, bringing strong agronomic performance and defenses against leaf diseases.