“Kronosor can compete with my standard rootstock.”

A field test by tomato grower Tom Vlaemynck has shown excellent performance of the new ToBRFV-resistant rootstock Kronosor. “It has sufficient growth power and also does well under vegetative conditions.”

Tom Vlaemynck was not looking for another rootstock for his tomatoes as he was satisfied with the rootstock he has been using for years, a reference variety in the tomato world. The fact that he is now conducting a trial with the Kronosor rootstock has no cultivation-technical reason. “Since I started growing the yellow pepper variety Yedda, I have had good contacts with Pieter Stijnen, my cultivation advisor from Syngenta. And he asked me if I would be interested in trying the ToBRFV-resistant Kronosor rootstock.” Vlaemynck is always open to something new and last December he also planted a block with the Kronosor rootstock in his Sanmaxim planting.

Less failure
Almost half a year later, Vlaemynck is very pleased with the performance of Kronosor. In recent months, the entrepreneur has experienced that Kronosor can compete with his standard rootstock in terms of growth power. “At the moment they are producing immediately, but in the beginning Kronosor was even a little stronger. It was dark and therefore vegetative weather during that period. The Sanmaxim on Kronosor was more generative and gave noticeably less failure in the first three trusses. They developed clearly better than the standard.” For Vlaemynck, this characteristic is extra important because the Sanmaxim is a vegetative variety. “The Kronosor is doing well in terms of growth control and has so far shown a nice uniform crop with a good balance and a high production. The season is of course only halfway through, but so far, I am very satisfied.”

Growth power & peace of mind
Whilst ToBRFV resistance is not the decisive factor for Vlaemynck when selecting rootstock, it provides additional peace of mind: “We used to have problems with that virus, but I have never used a resistant rootstock. But of course, it does help to stay virus-free. For me, growth power is the most important characteristic and Kronosor scores well on that.

Tom Vlaemynck and Tomato Masters

Tom Vlaemynck is the third-generation owner/director of Tomato Masters in Deinze. He is also co-initiator of the Tomeco group in which 5 cultivation companies of specialty tomatoes have joined forces. The greenhouses of Tomato Masters cover 21 ha. of which more than 12 tomatoes (of which 4.5 ha with the above-mentioned Sanmaxim variety) and 9 ha. peppers (red and yellow). The sales of all Tomeco partners are done via the Hoogstraten cooperative. Vlaemynck is known as an innovator in his field. He was a pioneer in the application of LED light in tomato cultivation. A pilot project is currently running in his greenhouses with solar panels that let the assimilation light through and use the other frequencies to generate electricity.

Syngenta's ToBRFV-resistant rootstocks in brief

The choice of a rootstock is all about properties that get the maximum production from the cultivated variety. Syngenta's resistant rootstocks offer extra protection and peace of mind against ToBRFV, without making concessions to growth strength and production.

In a non-resistant rootstock, virus particles present in the sap flow of the plant can multiply. Back in the plant, these virus particles can still have an impact on plant performance, even when the variety is resistant.

Research has shown that virus particles do not multiply in Syngenta rootstocks, making our rootstocks a simple and cost-effective way to complement your ToBRFV measures.

Last summer, Syngenta introduced Kronosor, a ToBRFV-resistant rootstock, which performs at least as well as the market standard. Fervour has now been added, with the same performance and an extra Fusarium resistance.

Key Features of Kronosor (and Fervour):

• Stimulates flower development and strength in the head of the plant
• Ensures a uniform crop, good plant balance and stimulates maximum productivity
• Provides increased resistance and consistent growth, even under stress or vegetative growing conditions
• Very suitable for growth control in naturally more vegetative varieties

Resistances HR: For / ToMV: 0-2 / V / Vd / Va / Fol: 0-1 (US1-2)
Compared to Kronosor, Fervour also has Fol: 2 (US3)
Resistances IR: M / Ma / Mi / Mj / Pl / ToBRFV