The management of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) has evolved from being a temporary challenge into a structural factor shaping decision-making throughout the entire value chain. In this context, BASF | Nunhems has taken a decisive step forward with the launch of its first three varieties featuring high resistance (HR): Fondón, Ivarian and the Maaspower rootstock.
The presentation took place during a field day at the company’s Demo Tomato Experience, where BASF | Nunhems also showcased its strategic vision for tomato production in areas with high sanitary pressure such as Almería and Murcia.
Fondón, a benchmark in cluster tomato
The new cluster tomato Fondón is the first variety of this typology in the BASF | Nunhems portfolio with HR to rugose. It has delivered outstanding results in Mazarrón, the area with the highest ToBRFV pressure in Spain, where it has demonstrated strong performance against co-infections.
With a vigorous plant and excellent foliage cover under heat stress, Fondón produces M-size fruits with an intense bright red colour and outstanding postharvest shelf life aimed at export markets. Its planting window ranges from 15 August in Almería greenhouses to spring cycles in Mazarrón with transplants between January and February.
Looking ahead, the company announced the upcoming launch of NUN 5706 (Lubrín), a cluster tomato with HR to rugose and predominantly G-size fruits for late autumn-winter cycles, while also revealing that it is already working on materials with resistance to ToV and PePMV.
Ivarian, a balanced plum tomato for the domestic market
In the plum tomato segment for the domestic market, BASF | Nunhems offers Ivarian, designed for the supermarket channel and featuring the same resistance package as Fondón.
With an open plant structure, highly exposed fruits, intense red colour and excellent blossom-end closure, Ivarian stands out for its versatility, adapting well to both winter and summer cycles. The company expects it to progressively replace Azovian, until now the benchmark variety in the segment, responding to the growing demand from growers for materials with HR to rugose.
Maaspower, a double barrier from the root system
The Maaspower rootstock completes the trio of HR materials with a resistance package combining resistance to rugose and notable nematode resistance, offering simultaneous protection against two of the main threats affecting the root system.
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With intermediate vigour, it acts as a sanitary barrier while improving the performance of the grafted variety. The rootstock breeding team is also working on two new lines with HR to rugose and high vigour, whose commercialisation is expected to be accelerated through a Fast Track process.
A strategy beyond the virus
During the recent World Tomato Congress 2026, BASF | Nunhems delivered a clear message: genetic resistance is an essential tool, but it must be integrated into a production model that does not compromise on quality or profitability.
Juan Miguel Agüero, Product Development Manager, stressed that prevention and biosecurity must be complemented by proven varieties capable of delivering stability in an increasingly demanding environment.
