First confirmed report of Potato spindle tuber viroid in Switzerland
The NPPO of Switzerland recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first official finding of Potato spindle tuber viroid (Pospiviroid, PSTVd – EPPO A2 List) on plants of Capsicum annuum (various seedless cultivars) on its territory. In March 2016, PSTVd was simultaneously detected (RT-PCR, sequencing) in two distinct places of production (greenhouses) located in the cantons of Zurich and Aargau. The infected capsicum plants belonged to the same lot which had been imported from a Dutch nursery in which PSTVd has recently been found (EPPO RS 2016/083). Affected plants did not show any specific symptoms. Official measures have been taken to eradicate PSTVd. All capsicum plants belonging to the infected lot have been destroyed by incineration and as a precaution, hygiene measures have also been imposed until further notice at the two production sites. Investigations are currently being carried out on other plant lots and species of Solanum at both places of production to verify whether mechanical transmission or transmission via irrigation water has not occurred.
The pest status of Potato spindle tuber viroid in Switzerland is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Switzerland (2016-04).