High resistance to ToBRFV
Safeguard your crop without compromise, with Rugose Defense. Get High Resistance (HR) to the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) without compromise on yield and without compromise on quality.
In the coming period, Rijk Zwaan will continue to release new varieties for trials and commercial introduction through our global breeding programs.
Safeguard your crop with Rugose Defense™
High resistance
Our varieties are tested in practical conditions under virus pressure to ensure performance. Our varieties retain HR under hot conditions.
Agronomic value
Our tomato varieties are tested by leading growers to verify agronomic and economic value before entering the market.
Rootstock compatible
Our ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes are compatible with all commercially available rootstocks, and retain HR once grafted.
What you need to know about ToBRFV
The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) is an emerging and rapidly spreading plant virus and has a major impact on global tomato production and distribution. Brown Rugose resistant varieties for Australia's growers
Trials and support
Be prepared for Brown Rugose - arrange a variety trial today.
FAQ for growers: About Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus
Rugose Defense
Trials under high infection levels with ToBRFV have shown that our resistant varieties remain healthy, whereas susceptible varieties in the same greenhouse show clear symptoms leading to losses in marketable yield. Our new resistant varieties offered under the Rugose Defense label have been extensively tested in practice before commercial introduction.
Why choose high resistant varieties?
Susceptible varieties are unable to restrict the growth and/or development of ToBRFV. This leads to major losses in yield and allows the further spread of the virus.
Varieties with Intermediate Resistance (IR) restrict the growth and/or development of ToBRFV to some extent. These varieties may, however, exhibit symptoms and/or damage under normal virus pressure.
Varieties with High Resistance (HR) significantly restrict the growth and/or development of ToBRFV under normal virus pressure. However, HR varieties might show symptoms under extreme conditions because high resistance is not the same as immunity. Immunity is when a plant is not subject to virus infection. There are no tomato varieties with immunity to ToBRFV.
Strict hygiene measures and a clean start remain essential for a successful crop. Rijk Zwaan considers HR varieties in combination with good hygiene to be the best solution for preventing losses caused by ToBRFV.
See available varieties with ToBRFV resistance here.
Rootstocks
Rijk Zwaan tomato varieties with high resistance to ToBRFV are compatible with all commercially available rootstocks. Rijk Zwaan’s high resistance is effective in combination with all susceptible rootstock varieties.
Please be aware that this might not be the case for other sources of resistance being introduced by others.
Trials have shown that rootstock variety Suzuka RZ performs strongly in combination with both susceptible and resistant tomato varieties.
Contact your local sales representative
In the coming period, Rijk Zwaan will continue to release new varieties for trials and commercial introduction from our worldwide breeding programmes. Please contact your local sales representative for more information, as they can provide information on availability of trial varieties and commercial varieties with HR resistance to ToBRFV.
ToBRFV in Australia
The first confirmed detections of ToBRFV in Australia occurred in South Australia in August 2024, followed by a second outbreak in a Victoria in January 2025. Quarantine measures were implemented to manage the risk of spread.
Significant efforts and sacrifices by the government and growers are being made to contain the virus; affected growers face the dual impact of the virus itself and biosecurity protocols. For growers, employees and local communities, the impact has been severe and devastating
Tomatoes with High Resistance (HR) to ToBRFV are a crucial part of a long-term strategy to lower virus pressure and mitigate its impact.
We believe that the combination of good hygiene and genetic resistance is the most effective, economical, and sustainable approach in the control of viral disease, and minimising losses caused by ToBRFV.