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July 2, 2004
From: European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO)
Reporting Service 2004, No. 01 [edited]

2004/008 First finding of Pepino mosaic potexvirus in Slovakia

Following a survey in 2003, the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of Slovakia recently recorded the first finding of Pepino mosaic potexvirus [PepMV] (EPPO Alert List) on tomatoes (_Lycopersicon esculentum_). Commercial tomato production sites in fields, plants under protected conditions as well as imported plants were inspected. 58 inspections of 19 487 tomato plants (grown on 47.5 ha) were made.

13 samples (corresponding to 26 plants) were collected and tested by DAS ELISA in a diagnostic laboratory. Only 1 sample was found positive. The sample came from a plastic house in a leisure garden at Liptovsky Mikulas.
All plants in this plastic house (grown on 7 square metres) were immediately destroyed.

The situation of PepMV in Slovakia can be described as follows: 1st reported in 2003, tomato plants grown in a small and non-commercial plastic house at Liptovsky Mikulas, under eradication.

Source: NPPO of Slovakia, 2004-02.

[Fortunately only 1 of 13 samples was infected. Given that PepMV is extremely infectious, quick action on the part of quarantine officials stopped what might have been an outbreak. Continued vigilance is required to prevent spread of PepMV. - Mod.DH]