The combination of expertise provided by De Ruiter and Monsanto promises an inspiring future for the rootstock market.With the technology and research capabilities of Monsanto, we will be able to obtain breakthrough results. By working together, we will increase our chance of finding the best genetic material from one in a billion to one in five. Next, we will be able to integrate these discoveries into our new rootstock varieties via traditional crossbreeding.
To find out more about the origin of the tomato, we have to go back to South America around the year 1500. It is here that the Spanish conquerors came into contact with what the Aztecs call “xitomatl” in their language. Many years later, wild varieties were found surviving at an altitude of 3000 meters in the Andes Mountains. Some wild tomato varieties which are resistant to the large temperature swings between day and night are a source of amazing vigour and growth and are also not susceptible to corky root. Characteristics of wild varieties are the basis of the modern day rootstock.