Crop breeder Enza Zaden has stressed the importance of varietal resistance in preventing the spread of tomato brown rugose virus (ToBRFV) during a presentation at the World Tomato Congress in Almeria, Spain.
In a presentation, Kees Konst, Enza’s tomato crop research director, said, “Only high resistance can stop the spread of the virus. The more highly resistant varieties are planted, the closer we will be to eradicating the virus, both in Spain and the rest of the world.” This is because only high resistance stops the spread and multiplication of the virus.
After a roundtable discussion on the issue, Carlos Herrerías, Product Manager for Solanaceae at Enza Zaden, added, “We think it is crucial to plan ahead and be ready for the winter harvest. We know what the virus situation is in summer, but we don’t know how it will evolve. It is necessary to act preventively to guarantee the production and supply.”
Enza Zaden already has a portfolio of varieties with high resistance, which makes it possible for farmers to prepare for the next campaign.