Bayer is turning up the heat in the fight against one of the most damaging viruses affecting tomato crops: Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV). This year, the company is rolling out a new generation of tomato varieties that offer stronger, longer-lasting resistance—even against new, tougher strains of the virus.
These innovative varieties, launching across all major greenhouse tomato segments, are built with multi-stacked virus-resistant genes. That means they can fend off ToBRFV mutations more effectively than earlier varieties, which often relied on just a single line of defense.
“ToBRFV continues to evolve, and growers need solutions that keep up,” said Javier Quintero, Global Lead for Tomato R&D at Bayer Crop Science. “Our new hybrids didn’t just pass the tests—they performed exceptionally well under heavy virus pressure. This gives us confidence that growers will see real benefits in the field.”
A Smarter Way to Protect Plants
Traditional ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes have helped maintain quality and yield in recent years, but ToBRFV is an RNA virus—meaning it mutates fast. That puts single-gene resistant varieties at risk. Bayer’s approach? Stack multiple resistance genes that target different stages of the virus’s attack, creating a stronger, more durable shield.
To prove the concept, Bayer ran two separate trials using four new hybrid tomato varieties. In one greenhouse, plants were exposed to the standard strain of ToBRFV; in another, they faced a resistance-breaking mutation. In both tests, non-resistant plants showed severe symptoms within just 14 to 21 days. But Bayer’s new hybrids? They stood firm, showing no signs of infection.
What’s Coming in 2025
The first multi-resistant hybrids—like De Ruiter’s red beef tomato ‘Ferreira’ and pink beef variety ‘Futumaru’—are already on the market. But there’s more on the way. In 2025, Bayer will introduce a full lineup of new ToBRFV-resistant varieties across key segments:
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Large Truss
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Medium Truss
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Cocktail & Cherry Plum Truss
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New Beef Types
Early results from field trials show not only strong virus resistance but also excellent agronomic performance and fruit quality—a key priority for growers and consumers alike.
With these new hybrids, Bayer is offering tomato growers a powerful new tool to outsmart ToBRFV—and protect both their crops and their livelihoods well into the future.