Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in Australia

Publication Date

Thu, 29 Aug 2024, 01:36

Last Updated

March 20, 2025, 5 a.m.

Report Number

AUS-113/2

Country

Australia

Pest Id

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus - (TOBRFV)

Report Status

Preliminary

Hosts

Detected in tomatoes. ToBRFV is an exotic plant disease that affects tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), capsicum (Capsicum annuum) and chillies (C. frutescens and C. chinense).

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Geographical Distribution

Detected at three properties in the Northern Adelaide Plains region in South Australia, and in a single property in Victoria.

Summary

In August 2024, ToBRFV was detected in commercially grown glasshouse Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) plants at three properties in the Northern Adelaide Plains region in South Australia. In January 2025, ToBRFV was detected in commercially grown glasshouse Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) plants at a single property in Victoria which has direct tracing links to one of the properties in South Australia.

All properties have been placed under Biosecurity Control Orders to prevent movement of infected material and reduce spread. Destruction, disposal and decontamination work is underway. The pest status for ToBRFV in Australia is Present: not widely distributed and under official control, with active enforcement of mandatory phytosanitary regulation and the application of mandatory phytosanitary procedures with the objective of eradication, in place.

Danger

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) affects field and greenhouse grown tomato and capsicum crops. Tomato plants infected with the virus are typically substantially less productive and produce poor-quality unmarketable fruit. These linked detections are the first time that ToBRFV has been detected in Australia, with ToBRFV currently under eradication.

Contact for info

Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer Australian Government Department of Agriculture GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 [email protected]

Report files

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