Choose cultivars that are resistant to prevalent pathogens and nematodes. Other factors that influence cultivar selection can include growing season, fruit and vine characteristics and processing characteristics. Overreliance on resistance can accelerate new pathogen races that overcome the resistance. Use of resistant cultivars alone does not control the pathogen and other management tools are essential.

Top 50 processing tomato cultivars harvested in California in 2025 and the disease resistance genes they possess.  Rank order based on loads delivered in 2025 as listed by the Processing Tomato Advisory Board (link to PTAB website). 

KEY: S denotes susceptible; FFF denotes genetic host resistance to races 1, 2 & 3 of Fusarium wilt of tomato; Fr denotes resistance to Fusarium crown and root rot; N denotes possession of the Mi gene which confers resistance to many species of root knot nematode, but does not prevent damage from resistance-breaking populations of southern Root Knot Nematode which are increasing in incidence in many processing tomato production areas in California. Although no cultivars are resistant to Fusarium stem rot and decline, research has demonstrated significant variation in tolerance (link to Table on tolerance to Fusarium stem rot and decline).

Disease resistance information provided by seed companies.