January 20, 2005
Source: EPPO Reporting Service, 2004 No. 10 [edited]

Results of the 2003/2004 surveys on Pepino mosaic potexvirus done in United Kingdom

Official surveys for Pepino mosaic potexvirus (PepMV - EPPO Alert List) were done in United Kingdom from 1 Aug 2003 to 31 Jul 2004. Inspections were made at premises involved in the production of tomato plants and fruit, as well as on tomato fruit, seed and other material moving in trade. Samples were tested by ELISA.

Premises involved in the production of tomato plants:
36 premises were visited (6 were propagators registered for plant passporting and 30 were premises producing or selling tomato plants for retail only). 65 inspections were made, 8 samples were submitted -- all were negative. All samples were taken from propagators authorised for plant passporting.

Premises involved in the production of tomato fruit:
63 premises were visited, 133 inspections were made and 58 samples were taken. 22 were positive from 6 premises (England and Wales). 5 outbreaks of PepMV were confirmed on nurseries during the reporting period where statutory action was taken.

Fruit moving in trade:
42 premises were visited and 243 inspections were made. 40 samples of imported fruit were tested, of which 36 were positive. The origin of the positive samples was: Spain (mainland: 14; Canary Isles: 19), Netherlands (3).

Seeds:
5 premises were visited. 2 were from propagators, all 25 samples were negative. 2 were from growers, from whom 7 samples were taken and 1 sample originating from the Netherlands tested positive.

The situation of PepMV in United Kingdom can be described as follows:
Present, 5 outbreaks were detected in 2003/2004 only in tomatoes grown for fruit production, under official control.

Source: NPPO of United Kingdom, 2004-11.

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[PepMV is extremely contagious, and disease management requires strict adherence to phytosanitary measures. The high incidence of PepMV infection in fruits originating in Spain, the Canary Islands and the Netherlands is
cause for concern, because international trade of infected fruits can spread the virus to other jurisdictions. - Mod.DH]