In a major breakthrough, tomato seed company TomaTech has cracked the code that could lead to tomatoes becoming resistant against the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV).
Fighting against the scourge of the global tomato farming industry, TomaTech has identified the DNA markers that are correlated to the fruits' ability to resist ToBRFV. The company has already filed for a provisional patent for the new technology, which could accelerate the breeding and distribution of these non-GMO virus-resistant tomatoes.
"Following years of intensive R&D efforts, TomatTech has succeeded in identifying DNA markers that elicit resistance to ToBRFV," says TomaTech CEO Ofer Ben Zvi. He adds that their new discovery will allow TomaTech to "rapidly develop a complete portfolio of resistant tomato varieties for global introduction and will benefit the growers and the entire value chain, providing a consistent supply chain while lowering production costs."
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A Huge Threat to Tomato Growing
The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus has caused significant economic damage estimated to be in the billions of dollars across the world in the last few years. First recorded in 2014, affecting a wide range of tomato species and variants from full-sized beefsteak tomatoes to the sweeter cherry lines. TomaTech reports that outbreaks of the ToBRFV have overwhelmed greenhouses across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Also, the appearance of the virus presents a substantial threat to tomato growers and its entire value chain around the world, damaging even commercial varieties of up to 30 percent.
As a disease affecting tomatoes and peppers, its main symptoms are mosaic and distortion of leaves. More notably, it causes the brown, wrinkly spots called rugose on the fruits. Due to the virus' high transmissibility, tomato growers have had to wear full protective gear and completely isolate greenhouses that have been infected with the virus.
To combat this problem, virus-resistant tomatoes are needed, the development of which requires exceptional capabilities and expertise in terms of phenotyping and genotyping the fruit. Virus resistance has been among TomaTech's R&D goals, working since 2017 to identify and develop new sources of resistance and the new cultivars.
"The ability to find strong resistance as well as identify DNA markers, protecting our IP through submission of provisional patent application, demonstrates TomaTech's capabilities to position itself at the front line in the research and breeding of the [tomato] varieties for the global market," shares Favi Vidavski, PhD, president and R&D head of TomaTech.
Developing Virus-Resistant Tomatoes
Vidavski additionally explains that TomaTech has developed an "advanced highly efficient screening system" based on molecular technology and controlled inoculation, testing thousands upon thousands of tomato plants "under the most severe conditions. They were able to reach a breakthrough in this effort by discovering a set of DNA markers that helps elicit a resistant response against viral infection.
So far, TomaTech has already introduced intermediate resistance (IR) capabilities across the entire tomato program. At the same time, they are expanding efforts to attain the next stage of IR in the near future. Furthermore, the same IR capabilities can be applied to a wide variety of tomatoes and is adaptable for use in both heated and unheated greenhouses.
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