EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 10 - 2004 Num. article: 2004/146

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 2003-08-01 to 2004-07-31. 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 and 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, of which 22 were positive from 6 premises (England and Wales). There were 5 outbreaks of PepMV 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 propagators, from whom 25 samples were taken which were all negative, and 2 were growers, from whom 7 samples were taken, with one positive on seed from the Netherlands.

The situation of Pepino mosaic potexvirus 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.

Sources

NPPO of United Kingdom, 2004-11.