On February 27th, the French Food Safety Agency (ANSES) warned of the new tomato virus ToBFV and recommended further work to assess the risks.
© Anses
© Anses
ToBFV not to be confused with ToBRFV
"The first observations of Tomato Fruit Blotch Virus (ToFBV), not to be confused with ToBRFV (Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus), took place in Italy in 2018 and in Australia in 2019. Its presence was then reported in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Greece and Switzerland. The presence of the virus was subsequently detected in tomato samples collected in 2012 in Italy and in 2015 in Spain. To date, there are no regulations governing ToFBV," according to ANSES.
"The late appearance of symptoms means that there is no way of anticipating them"
"The damage observed is confined to the fruit and is characterized by severe discoloration and deformation that makes it unmarketable. The absence of symptoms on the leaves and the late appearance of symptoms on the fruit during production make it impossible to anticipate the application of any management measures (elimination of affected plants, control of the suspected vector mite). The economic impact can be severe, as has been reported in several countries including Italy and Spain. To date, given the recent characterization of this virus, no resistant variety has been described and tomato varietal susceptibility has not been studied," according to ANSES.
Lack of regulatory measures and status with regard to this virus
Given the importance of greenhouse tomato production in France, the damage caused by ToFBV in its current area of distribution, the growing number of reports from production sites on several continents and within the European Union, and the absence of regulatory measures and status with regard to the virus, an assessment of the phytosanitary risk linked to ToFBV in mainland France was carried out. The aim is to assess the probability of introduction (entry and establishment) and spread of the virus, to evaluate its potential impact in France, and to identify possible management measures.
Further work needed to resolve uncertainties
According to ANSES, "further work needs to be carried out to resolve the uncertainties and come to a firmer conclusion about the priorities in terms of combating or limiting the risks of transmission. Nevertheless, the Quickscan results already provide indications of the difficulties of early detection and the absence, to date, of any climatic brake on the establishment of the virus, as well as the suspected role of a mite, A. lycopersici, as a transmission vector. There are few effective means of control, even though it also has other impacts on tomato crops."
Source: anses.fr