The NPPO of Latvia recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the occurrence of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus fructirugosum, ToBRFV – EPPO A2 List) on its territory. ToBRFV was first detected in June 2024 in Ropaži area (Stopiņi parish) as part of an official survey. The virus was detected in a greenhouse (1.22 ha) on asymptomatic tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) for fruit production. Phytosanitary measures according to EU Regulation 2023/1032 were applied. The production of tomato fruit in the greenhouse is allowed and plants will be destroyed afterwards ensuring that the virus does not spread.
The pest status of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in Latvia is officially declared as follows: Present, at low prevalence, under eradication.
It's not only in Latvia that the rugose virus is rolling. On top of that, indeed, the NPPO of Romania recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the occurrence of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus fructirugosum, ToBRFV – EPPO A2 List) on its territory. ToBRFV was first detected in March 2024 in the county of Arad (western part of Romania) as part of an official survey. The virus was detected in a greenhouse (200 m²) in asymptomatic seedlings of aubergine (Solanum melongena) which had been grown from seeds originating in Thailand. Phytosanitary measures according to EU Regulation 2023/1032 were applied: all S. melongena plants were destroyed, and tools and other materials were disinfected. An investigation was conducted to determine the origin of the outbreak: seeds of the same batch were tested and were found to be negative. It is concluded that ToBRFV infection may be linked to the re-use of undisinfected plastic alveoli that had been used to produce Solanum lycopersicum seedlings in the previous year.
The pest status of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in Romania is officially declared as follows: Absent, pest eradicated.
Source: gd.eppo.int; gd.eppo.int