ToBRFV has been confirmed at three businesses in the Northern Adelaide Plains region - the first detection of the virus in Australia.
DPIRD Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer Vincent Lanoiselet said DPIRD had already introduced interim emergency quarantine measures for seed, nursery stock, host fruit (tomato, capsicum and chilli) and packaging from the infected properties.
Following a risk assessment to identify hosts and pathways for the virus, DPIRD has now extended these import requirements to apply to all of South Australia and any state or territory where the virus is known to occur.
“Tomato brown rugose fruit virus is highly infectious and can significantly reduce yields in tomato, chilli and capsicum crops,” Dr Lanoiselet said.
“DPIRD is working closely with the WA horticulture industry to minimise the risk of introduction to WA and will continue to engage nationally on host pathways and market access conditions for the virus.”
Symptoms of the disease in tomato and capsicum include yellow spots, brown wrinkled patches, and deformed or uneven ripening. Leaves can appear with mottling or mosaic patterning, deformation, puckering and wilting.
Dr Lanoiselet said WA producers should review their on-farm biosecurity and hygiene practices and strengthen where necessary to minimise the risk of introducing plant pests and diseases.
This includes avoiding unnecessary visits and contact with crops; reducing equipment and materials shared between facilities; monitoring for disease symptoms; disinfecting tools, propagating material and equipment and using seed that has been tested for the virus.
Any evidence of ToBRFV in crops should be reported via the department’s MyPestGuide® Reporter app or the Pest and Disease Information Service on (08) 9368 3080.
