Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is regulated as a quarantine pest in many countries worldwide. To assess whether ToBRFV is present in cultivations, plants or seed lots, testing is required. The interpretation of test results, however, can be challenging. Reverse transcription-quantitative (real-time) PCR results, even though considered “positive”, may not always signify plant infection or indicate the presence of infectious virus, but could be due to the presence of viral residues in the environment. ToBRFV was detected inside and around greenhouses with no prior history of ToBRFV infection, and on different materials and surfaces, including those that were untouched by individuals, plants or objects. This suggested the dispersal of viral residues through aerosols. ToBRFV or its residues were more often detected in regions with nearby tomato production, yet were also found in a wider environment extending beyond infected crops.
Photo: EPPO (2024) EPPO Global Database. https://gd.eppo.int
Reference: , , , , , et al. (2024) Detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in environmental residues: The importance of contextualizing test results. Plant Pathology, 00, 1–13. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13968
