ToBRFV is a constant threat to growers worldwide as it significantly reduces yields, affects the quality of the fruit, and systematically infects other plants. It is a very transmittable virus that can infect through soil, tools, water, and people’s contact. Hazera has been tackling this threat with its ToBRFV IR varieties- the optimal balance between protection and performance – which provide growers with an effective tool to face the highly infectious virus.
Guillermo Briseno, General Manager in Mexico explains “The Mexican tomato market before ToBRFV, was a regular market with its challenges on yield, quality, regular diseases for which we had the majority of the resistances and so on.”
“After ToBRFV, the course of tomato producing practices has changed dramatically in Mexico. ToBRFV is a game changer and requires plants to have a strong resistance.”
“When the first ToBRFV-resistant varieties were launched by the different companies, there was always doubt from the growers, about whether the resistance was strong enough or not. Growers are looking for the optimal balance of protection plus performance of the ToBRFV-resistant varieties, so, it is important to supply growers with varieties that can provide on one side resistance and on the other side a good performance.”
“We have now two indeterminate tomato varieties Canelo and Pendragon that show good performance and add value to the growers. In addition, we are adding long shelf life to grape tomato varieties that require a high demand of labour to support growers as well with lower labor needs, resistance, and performance. At Hazera, we will continue working to assure growers to can continue to have profitable seasons and bring more and more varieties in the different slots that can provide performance and resistance.”
