The beef tomato variety STVH5912 from Bayer Seminis is enabling growers to regain stability and achieve high yields in its second commercial year. This is confirmed by Juan Baraza, Sales Representative in the Region of Murcia, who highlights that the variety “is performing very well given the severe situation caused by rugose,” offering security in an especially complex context. The pressure of ToBRFV continues to shape the season, particularly in Mazarrón and Águilas.
“This year we are seeing even higher incidence than last year in some areas, and we are also detecting other viruses such as ToBFV (tomato blotchy virus, transmitted by the vasates mite) and PepMV (pepino mosaic virus), which is endemic in the area.”
The interaction between the three pathogens, combined with high temperatures, is generating co‑infections and symptoms not previously observed. Baraza warns of “a certain relaxation in preventive measures,” especially among small growers who trust that using resistant varieties alone is enough to address the issue.
A stable and productive alternative
In this scenario, STVH5912 is positioning itself as a stable alternative. It is a beef‑type tomato with large calibres (G–GG and some GGG), with intermediate resistance to ToBRFV, TYLCV and diseases such as Verticillium, Fusarium and Stemphylium.
Highly productive, it offers yields in Murcia above 20 kg/m², good fruit set in both hot and cold conditions and sufficient post‑harvest performance for nearby markets such as Spain and France. The plant, with medium‑length internodes, allows harvesting at breaker stage and maintains an attractive red colour at destination.
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Transplanting windows run from December to late April under netting or greenhouse for the spring cycle; from 10 July to 15 August under netting for the autumn cycle; and from mid‑August onwards in plastic‑covered crops.
Baraza recommends grafting with Vitalfort, DR0141TX or DRTX6695 in fields with nematodes. In terms of management, he discourages nitrogen‑rich fertilisation and advises high potassium and phosphorus levels, as well as irrigation water with medium‑high conductivity around 3.5.
In addition to STVH5912, the Bayer Seminis catalogue includes varieties such as Novero and DRTH2913, and the company is working on new material that could be launched next year.
