January 2021 - 20

TOMATOES
VIRUS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
company with operations in 25 countries
on Oct.1 announced the company had
found a gene providing a high level of
resistance to ToBRFV.
" It has been very important for us to find
this resistance and also to communicate,
so we can give the growers hope that there
is a solution coming, " said Tomato Crop
Research Director Kees Konst. " If you can
find HR (high resistance), which is the
highest level possible, that's the best way to
get rid of the virus and together we have to
fight the virus. "
Enza Zaden is now breeding resistant
tomato varieties.
" At this moment we are looking at the
first hybrids in our own greenhouses, " Konst
said. " We found this gene, and we have with
it also (a genetic) marker that's associated,
so that makes breeding in a broad range of
types of tomatoes relatively more easy. "
He said the company is going to work
with growers to make clear choices so
seed production can be increased as soon
as possible. A commercial release won't
happen in 2021, but he believes it will
happen within the coming years.
The tomato varieties would eventually
include cherry, mini-plum, cocktail, TOV
(tomatoes on the vine) and beefsteak
tomatoes. Enza Zaden would focus
on indeterminate tomatoes because
greenhouse growers' investments in their
crops are higher than field growers.
" When we figured out this new virus
was a tobamovirus, we put it on the
highest priority, " Konst said. " So we put a
lot of projects aside, and the focus turned
to find resistance to this ToBRFV. ...
There was a whole team behind it. "
The gene for the high level of resistance
was found in Enza Zaden's library of
germplasm of wild tomatoes - a huge
seed collection of wild tomato relatives
that are crossable with normal cultivated
tomatoes.
" It's like looking for a needle in a
haystack, but we have identified a
gene providing high resistance against
ToBRFV, " plant pathology researcher
Sergio de la Fuente van Bentem said in a
release from the company.
'Symptomless' Romas trialed
Bayer in late September began its final
large-scale pre-launch trials of Roma-type
tomatoes to help growers address ToBRFV.
The trials, which begin later this month
in Mexico, will include two varieties of
Roma-type tomato that claim intermediate
resistance (IR) to ToBRFV.
Bayer is using two varieties of Roma
tomatoes in trials to test for the presence of
ToBRFV.
The type of IR Bayer has seen in these
varieties is commonly referred to as the
" symptomless carrier, " where, despite the
presence of virus particles, the crop can
show little or no symptoms of the virus
in the leaf and/or fruit should the crop
become infected by the virus, according to
a news release from the company.
Following the trials, Bayer anticipates
the products will be available for
commercial sale in Mexico in 2021, to later
be followed by offerings in other important
markets around the world, according to
the news release.
" ToBRFV can quickly devastate tomato
crops, so Bayer worked to develop a
product to help growers combat it, " said
J.D. Rossouw, head of Bayer's Vegetable
Seeds research and development. " Bayer
leveraged our global cross-functional
teams and extensive research and
development pipeline to offer a solution
designed to ease the day-to-day challenges
faced by growers. Our research continues
across several tomato species with the goal
of bringing further innovative resistance to
growers as quickly as possible. "
Developing these varieties aligns with
Bayer's commitment to provide clean
vegetable seeds from its Seminis and
De Ruiter brands to growers around the
world season after season, according to
the news release.
BASF introduces variety
For the new season in Mexico, BASF is
introducing its first tomato variety with
intermediate resistance against ToBRFV.
The new hybrid is a cherry plum tomato
variety and combines intermediate
resistance with strong agronomic and
market performance.
" The new variety has proven its
performance during two test seasons at
different locations in Sinaloa, Bajio, Baja
California and South Mexico, " said Hiram
Gutierrez Ayala, crop sales manager for
Tomato Fresh. " The variety showed a
reliable resistance under light and heavy
virus pressure and will contribute to a
more stable supply of high-quality grape
tomatoes for the domestic Mexican market
and the important export markets in the
U.S. and Canada. Consumers will value
the snack tomatoes for their attractive
appearance, shelf life and sweetness. "
" ToBRFV is a contagious plant virus
which easily spreads via mechanical
transmission. Infected fruits are
unsellable, " said Ivan Angulo Araujo,
regional product specialist Tomato
Fresh. " With the intermediate ToBRFV
resistance the plants and fruits will
remain symptomless and sellable, offering
a more reliable revenue for the growers. "
This introduction is the result of the
accelerated development process for
parent lines using innovative breeding
practices such as indoor farming and
marker technology.
The company intends to introduce new
Roma type varieties in 2021 and to develop
more ToBRFV resistant varieties for other
tomato segments and regions over the next
few years. VGN
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January 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2021