Assessment of processing tomato cultivar tolerance to Fusarium Stem Rot and Decline (in a co-infested southern blight background) in Sutter County, CA, 2023

Fusarium stem rot and decline (FRD), caused by two pathogens in the Fusarium solani complex (F. martii and F. noneumartii), is an emerging threat to processing tomato production in California. It causes a premature vine decline which exposes fruits to sunburn and mold damage. This report evaluates yield performance of 26 commercial cultivars in a naturally FRD-infested grower field trial near Knight’s Landing, CA in 2023. Results will allow growers to choose lower-risk cultivars to plant in FRD-infested fields, reducing yield losses and improving quality.