Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus is an exotic plant disease that affects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies. Listed on the National Priority Plant Pest list, it is highly contagious and regarded as a considerable threat to Australia's vegetable industry.
The virus poses no threat to human health.
Background
ToBRFV was first detected in the Middle East in 2014 and has since been reported in Europe, the Middle East, China, Mexico and the USA.
The virus has been the subject of two previous suspect detections in Australia (in 2019 and 2020) but these were subsequently confirmed as negative.
The current detection is the first confirmed case of ToBRFV in Australia.
Current situation
The virus has been detected on 3 properties in the Northern Adelaide Plains. PIRSA has implemented quarantine measures on the infected properties to manage the risk of the virus spreading.
Response activities are underway, including surveillance and tracing to determine the possible spread of the virus. PIRSA is also working closely with affected businesses to minimise cross-contamination and to determine the source, which is currently unknown.
As of 3 September 2024 more than 2,000 plant samples have been taken for testing from 18 businesses, including 84 greenhouses.
Three businesses are also being investigated in case of infected seeds.
Tracing has shown some other states may have also received potentially infected seed, and these jurisdictions have been informed.
PIRSA is ensuring our surveillance and tracing are robust so that we can be as confident as possible in knowing how far the disease may have spread. Having this evidence will support our efforts, and help minimise trade impacts.
Movement controls
South Australia has applied movement controls and quarantine measures within infected premises (IPs) and at the property boundary to prevent movement of risk material and minimise cross contamination.
Queensland
Queensland
On 24 August 2024, the Queensland Government issued a movement control order (MCO) suspending the movement of tomato seeds, tomato seedlings, and tomato fruit into Queensland from South Australia.
This is a temporary precaution to minimise the risk of ToBRFV spreading to Queensland. PIRSA is working with Queensland and will provide further advice as soon as possible.
Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia has placed an interim measure on any fruit and packaging coming into the state from the affected South Australian properties with such items being placed under quarantine. Western Australia's arrangements are of an interim nature while further tracing and testing activities are undertaken by PIRSA.
Impact
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus could have a significant impact on Australia's vegetable industry including considerable economic losses due to reduced yield and quality of produce.
In tomatoes, ToBRFV reduces marketable yield by up to 75%.
No shortages of tomatoes or price rises are expected as a result of these detections.
Spread
ToBRFV is easily spread through:
- infected seed, plants for planting, grafts and cutting
- direct plant to plant contact
- touch transmission by handling contaminated tools, gloves, equipment and clothing.
The virus can survive in seeds, plant debris and contaminated soil for months.
Some weeds, including black nightshade, silverleaf nightshade and buffalo bur are regarded as hosts for ToBRFV.
Potatoes are not known to host or be affected by the virus.
Management
To protect your property and produce from ToBRFV, producers, home gardeners and consumers are reminded to practice safe biosecurity measures and report anything suspicious with their plants, crops or fruit to ensure early detection.
Advice for commercial growers
Advice for commercial growers
Producers are advised to:
- practice good sanitation and plant hygiene, and implement this into everyday management
- prevent the entry and movement of pests onto your property by making sure staff, visitors and anyone coming into contact with your crops complies with on-farm biosecurity and hygiene practices, which could include:
- washing clothing and boots
- washing hands
- wearing and changing gloves regularly
- disinfecting tools, propagating material and equipment with sodium hypochlorite (1% solution of a 12% concentrate of pool chlorine)
- unless disinfected, do not share equipment, tools and machinery with other growers
- come clean, go clean: if you’ve been to another grower's property disinfect prior to being in contact with your crop, tools or equipment
- source seed, seedlings and graft material that is free of ToBRFV
- remove weeds, wild tomato plants and solanaceous plant material that could act as hosts for the virus such as fat hen (Chenopodium murale), quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), Petunia hybrids (garden plants) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
- monitor crops regularly for virus disease symptoms.
See Fact sheets to download this information as PDF in English or Vietnamese.
See Programs on the AusVeg SA website for 'Clean Your Farm' and 'Greenhouse Toolkit' resources in English and Vietnamese.
Go to the Farm Biosecurity website to build your own biosecurity toolkit.
Advice for home gardeners
Advice for home gardeners
Home gardeners are advised to:
- keep a regular eye out for unusual pests or disease in your garden including ToBRFV and report anything unusual immediately to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline
- source seed, seedlings and graft material that is free of ToBRFV from a reliable supplier or nursery
- know what to do when travelling with plants
- disinfect tools, propagating material and equipment with sodium hypochlorite (1% solution of a 12% concentrate of pool chlorine)
- remove any weeds, wild tomato plants and other hosts that could act as reservoirs for the virus that you find in your garden.
For further information and advice on establishing good home garden biosecurity and plant hygiene visit the Urban Plant Health Network.
Identification
Symptoms of this virus can look like those of other viruses from the same family and diagnostics are required to identify it.
Different plant varieties can present different symptoms.
What to look for on leaves:
- mosaic or mottling patterns
- yellowing or discolouration
- blister-like appearance on the top surface of leaves
- deformities, including smaller leaf sizes.
What to look for on fruit:
- yellow patches and marbling
- brown wrinkled spots on fruit
- uneven ripening (including green stripes or blotches)
- deformities.
Support for growers
If you are concerned about the possible impact of the ToBRFV outbreak on you or your business, contact PIRSA’s Family and Business (FaB) mentors for free support. They are independent, confidential, and experienced in dealing with difficult situations.
Call the Recovery Hotline on 1800 931 314 or email PIRSA.Recovery@sa.gov.au.
Fact sheets
- Advice for commercial growers to reduce the risk of ToBRFV ()
- Come clean go clean – help stop tomato virus spreading ()
Translated into Vietnamese
- Advice for commercial growers to reduce the risk of ToBRFV (in Vietnamese) ()
- Come clean go clean – help stop tomato virus spreading (in Vietnamese) ()
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