Bayer Seminis is strengthening its commitment to tomatoes with the launch of its first export plum tomato variety featuring intermediate resistance (IR) to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), in addition to the standard resistance package and spotted. Named Peramy, it will be available from May and represents the first step in what will be a comprehensive pre-commercial pipeline for the next campaign.
Juan Miguel Robles, Tomato Specialist at the company, states that the investment made in this crop in recent years is beginning to deliver results, with a particular focus on materials resistant to ToBRFV. “We are starting to see the results and we have high expectations,” he notes.
Peramy is recommended for plantings from 5 August to October, as well as spring plantings up to April. It is aimed at marketing companies and meets all the standards required for export. It has already been presented to supermarkets in Central Europe, including chains in Germany, the United Kingdom and Austria, where the response has been positive, with particular appreciation for its calibre, fruit colour and post-harvest performance.
Four new developments in the pipeline
For the next campaign, Bayer Seminis will introduce four pre-commercial varieties to complete its portfolio: two cluster tomatoes (one for short cycles and one for long cycles), a loose or long shelf life tomato, and a beef tomato.
These materials will complement the already established commercial varieties with ToBRFV resistance: SVTH5912, DRTH2913 and Novero. With these, the company is strongly reinforcing its presence in the tomato category.
Rootstocks
Within its rootstock portfolio under the De Ruiter range, Bayer Seminis highlights three key references.
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The new DRTX0318 features intermediate resistance (IR) to ToBRFV and Fusarium Fol: 0–3, medium vigour, an open plant structure and a generative profile with good plant balance. It adapts to all tomato typologies, particularly cherry, where it enhances flavour.
DRTX6695, launched last year, incorporates a new source of resistance to nematodes, unlike the traditional Mi-1.2 gene, reducing parasite reproduction by more than 95%, according to a study by the UPC.
Finally, DR0141TX, with maximum vigour, has established itself as a market leader thanks to its outstanding plant balance, proving especially useful in minimising the impact of ToBRFV in resistant varieties.
