The French Food Safety Agency (ANSES) has highlighted the presence of a new virus disease in tomato crops and has urged growers and the wider industry to remain vigilant.
According to ANSES, ‘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.’
It continued, ‘The damage observed is confined to the fruit and is characterised 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.’
Given the importance of greenhouse tomato production in France and neighbouring countries, ANSES warned, ‘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.’
