De Ruiter Introduces Solstic Roma Tomato
The new Roma variety offers multi-gene intermediate resistance to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus for high-tech greenhouse production.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Botany
De Ruiter, a vegetable seed brand of Bayer, introduced Solstic, its first Roma tomato variety with multi-gene intermediate resistance to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV). The variety is designed for high-tech greenhouse production and supports both lit and unlit cycles.
Why it matters
Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus threatens tomato crops, and resistant varieties give growers a way to manage that risk within greenhouse production. Solstic adds a resistant option to De Ruiter's Roma lineup for producers seeking consistent yields.
Solstic's fruit averages 90 to 110 grams and is uniform and oval-shaped, according to De Ruiter's product description. The extraction does not include independent trial data verifying the intermediate resistance to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus.
The players
De Ruiter
De Ruiter is a vegetable seed brand owned by Bayer that develops and sells tomato and other vegetable varieties for commercial growers.
Bayer
Bayer is a multinational life sciences company whose vegetable seed brands include De Ruiter.
The details
Solstic combines intermediate resistance to powdery mildew with strong plant vigor and consistent fruit setting, and shows low susceptibility to blossom end rot. The variety was previously trialed under the pre-commercial designation DRTJ4101 before its introduction.
Timeline
Solstic was introduced on November 4, 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
Solstic extends ToBRFV resistance breeding from existing tomato lines into the Roma type, which is widely grown for processing and fresh greenhouse production. Its introduction follows the wider industry push to develop resistant varieties as ToBRFV spread across tomato-growing regions worldwide.
For growers, a variety with intermediate ToBRFV resistance can reduce the production risk posed by the virus in greenhouse operations. Growers wanting to evaluate Solstic can request a private appointment at De Ruiter demonstration houses in Leamington, Canada, or the Netherlands.
The takeaway
Resistant tomato varieties like Solstic give greenhouse growers a practical tool against Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus. Growers evaluating new varieties can arrange on-site trials at De Ruiter facilities before committing to production.
Further reading
Explore more plant research in our Botany section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Horti Daily.
