MONHEIM / Germany, 5 June 2025: In a major breakthrough for protected cultivation farming, Bayer has announced the launch of new tomato varieties with multi-stacked resistance to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV)—a rapidly mutating plant RNA virus that continues to challenge growers worldwide.
The new varieties will be available in every major glasshouse tomato segment throughout 2025, marking a significant advancement in disease resilience and crop sustainability. By stacking multiple virus-resistant genes, Bayer offers growers a more durable defense against resistance-breaking strains of ToBRFV.
Why This Matters
While first-generation ToBRFV-resistant varieties helped stabilize tomato production, their single-gene resistance left them vulnerable to viral mutations. Multi-stacked resistance disrupts the virus at multiple stages of infection, significantly improving crop protection over time.
“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 Tomato R&D at Bayer’s Crop Science division. “Our trials confirmed that these new hybrids hold up against both standard and resistance-breaking virus strains.”
Rigorous Testing Proves Efficacy
Bayer conducted two greenhouse trials with four new tomato hybrids, each exposed to either a standard or resistance-breaking ToBRFV isolate. While control plants showed severe viral symptoms within three weeks, the new multi-stacked resistant hybrids demonstrated robust immunity across both test groups.
First Wave of Commercial Launches (2025)
De Ruiter’s red beef 'Ferreira' and pink beef 'Futumaru' are already available.
New multi-stacked resistant hybrids will be released across Large Truss, Medium Truss, Cocktail & Cherry Plum Truss, and additional Beef segments.
Early performance data indicates strong agronomic traits and consistent produce quality, positioning the hybrids as a go-to solution for commercial growers dealing with virus-related risks in high-value tomato farming.
By deploying these advanced hybrids, Bayer continues its mission to future-proof global agriculture, helping farmers increase productivity while protecting crop value and supply consistency.
