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ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
September 4, 2003
From:
European and Mediterranean
Plan Protection Organisation (EPPO)
Reporting Service 2003, No. 7 [edited]
European tomato isolates belong to a
distinct strain of pepino mosaic potexvirus
In 1999, a new virus disease of tomato was found in protected
tomato crops in the Netherlands and then in other European
countries. Preliminary studies revealed the presence of pepino
mosaic potexvirus (PepMV - EPPO alert list), a virus which was
originally described from pepino (_Solanum muricatum_) in Peru
(found in 2 tomato crops in 1974 and then no longer observed).
The virus was purified, and an antiserum was produced that
reacted strongly with the isolates from tomato and the type
isolate from pepino. Various diagnostic tests indicated that
PepMV differed from all other known potexviruses reported from
solanaceous crops (potato aucuba mosaic virus and potato virus
X). The type isolate from pepino in Peru and 3 others from
tomato collected in the Netherlands, Germany, and United Kingdom
were further studied.
Serological tests (IEM, DAS-ELISA) could not differentiate
between them. Molecular tests confirmed the results of host
range and symptomatological studies (mechanical inoculation)
that tomato PepMV isolates differed from the pepino isolate.
Pepino mosaic potexvirus is considered the causal agent of the
new disease observed in tomatoes in Europe, and that European
tomato isolates differ from the type strain found on pepino. The
authors designated the new strain as the tomato strain of PepMV.
Source:
Van der Vlugt RAA, Cuperus C, Vink J, Stijger ICMM, Lesemann DE,
Verhoeven JTJ, Roenhorst JW. Identification and characterization
of Pepino mosaic potexvirus in tomato. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO
Bulletin 2002; 32(3): 503-8.
[According to Van der Vlugt, pepino mosaic is still
present in glasshouse production systems in the Netherlands, but
is under control and is not a serious problem. Whether it is
present in outside production systems is unknown; but if it is
present, it will probably be in home gardens. In addition to the
Netherlands, the disease has been reported from Germany, UK,
Belgium, France, and Spain. In most of these countries it is
under control or has been eradicated. Unfortunately, pepino
mosaic is present in outdoor tomato production areas in Spain,
where it causes serious crop loss in localized areas. Results of
studies (symptoms on plant indicator hosts and percent homology
in a 547-bp PCR fragment derived from the RNA-dependent RNA
polymerase gene) all of 15 PepMV isolates from countries within
Europe and elsewhere are considered members of the same strain,
designated as the tomato strain of PepMV. Moreover, the high
similarity between the various isolates suggests that the
outbreaks in Europe likely originated from a common locus. The
prevailing assumption is that PepMV was brought to Europe from
South America by unknown means. Pepino mosaic is difficult to
manage. Disease management in glasshouse production systems
requires strict application of phytosanitary measures (use of
virus-free seed and transplants, sterilization of equipment and
facilities, and disinfection of circulated irrigation water). An
additional reference: <http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/facts/01-017.htm>.
I sincerely thank Rene Van der Vlugt for sharing his experience
and knowledge about this disease. - Mod.DH] |
