WA on alert after tomato brown rugose fruit virus detected in South Australia

WA’s $3 billion horticulture industry is on alert after a highly infectious tomato virus was detected in Australia for the first time. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus was last week confirmed at two properties in the Northern Adelaide Plains region, which are under quarantine as South Australian authorities work to stop the spread. WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is also closely monitoring the situation. DPIRD chief plant biosecurity officer Vincent Lanoiselet said any consignments of host fruit and packaging from the infected properties would be quarantined on arrival in WA. “While there is no evidence to indicate the virus has spread from the impacted properties, it is important for all producers to examine their on-farm biosecurity,” Dr Lanoiselet. “Tomato brown rugose fruit virus is highly infectious and can significantly reduce yields in tomato, chilli and capsicum crops.” Dr Lanoiselet said eight consignments had been intercepted and re-exported out of WA, with no further deliveries expected from the infected properties. “Relevant stakeholders are aware that WA is not accepting fruit from infected properties and DPIRD does not expect any more consignments to be intercepted,” he told Countryman. He also confirmed consignments from non-infected South Australian properties were not being inspected or quarantined “at this stage”, noting DPIRD would “review this if the risk changes”. Symptoms of the disease in tomato and capsicum include yellow spots, brown wrinkled patches, and deformed or uneven ripening. Leaves can appear with mottling or mosaic patterning, deformation, puckering and wilting. “This is the first time tomato brown rugose fruit virus has been confirmed in Australia,” Dr Lanoiselet said. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus is a National Priority Plant Pest and poses a serious biosecurity risk to Australia’s fruit and vegetable industries. It can cause yield losses of up to 70 per cent and reduce marketable fruit yield by 10 to 15 per cent, according to Agriculture Victoria. “ToBRFV spreads incredibly quickly and easily and can be difficult to manage once present in an environment,” Agriculture Victoria’s website states. “ToBRFV was first reported in 2014 on tomatoes in Israel. It has since been reported in Europe, the Middle East, China, Mexico and the United States.” The wide distribution of the virus has been attributed to the global movement of infected seed. South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions is carrying out surveillance and tracing and investigating the source of the outbreak, which is unknown. The department is also working with other jurisdictions to trace any plant material from the infected properties — which are located in a major vegetable growing area — that may have moved interstate. Producers in WA have been urged to minimise the risk of introducing the disease by ensuring staff and visitors comply with on-site biosecurity and hygiene practices. These include monitoring for symptoms, avoiding unnecessary visits and contact with crops, reducing equipment and materials shared between facilities, and disinfecting tools, propagating material and equipment. Producers are also advised to only use seed that has been tested for the disease. There is no risk to human health but the virus can survive in seeds, plant debris and contaminated soil for months. Some weeds including fat hen, quinoa, petunia hybrids and black nightshade can act as reservoirs for the virus, allowing it to remain viable between growing seasons. Any suspected cases should be reported to the Pest and Disease Information Service via padis@dpird.wa.gov.au or by phoning (08) 9368 3080. Sightings can also be reported via DPIRD’s MyPestGuide Reporter app.