First finding of Tomato spotted wilt virus on plants of Osteospermum ecklonis in Austria
The Austrian NPPO recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding of Tomato spotted wilt virus (Tospovirus, TSWV – EPPO A2 List) on plants of Osteospermum ecklonis in the region of Vienna in May 2011. TSWV is listed on different plant species in Annex II/A2 of the EU Directive 2000/29/EC, but not on plants of Osteospermum spp. The infected plants were found in a nursery and had been vegetatively propagated from mother plants. It is suspected that this infection resulted from natural spread by thrips vectors. The virus was detected by RT-PCR according to the EPPO Standard PM 7/34(1) at the laboratory of the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES). The regional Plant Protection Service has ordered the destruction of all infested plants and their mother plants.
The pest status of Tomato spotted wilt virus in Austria is officially declared as: Present, few occurrences.
Sources
NPPO of Austria (2011-12).
EPPO Standard PM 7/34(1) Diagnostic protocol. Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus, Impatiens necrotic spot tospovirus and Watermelon silver mottle tospovirus.