First report of Citrus exocortis viroid in the Czech Republic
During a recent survey concerning another viroid (Potato spindle tuber viroid – EPPO A2 List), the presence of Citrus exocortis viroid (Pospiviroid, CEVd) has been found for the first time in the Czech Republic on Solanum jasminoides. In October 2010, CEVd was detected in a leaf sample taken from symptomless plants of S. jasminoides grown in a glasshouse (1 company), located in the Vysočina region. These plants were not intended for sale to other growers. Two other findings were then made (in November 2010 and February 2011) in another glasshouse located in the Moravian-Silesian region which was producing plants for planting of S. jasminoides. In the first case, the origin of the infected plants could not be traced, but in the second case the CEVd-infected plants had been imported from Germany. According to the literature, CEVd can cause damage to Citrus spp. and eventually to some vegetable crops such as tomato, but remains symptomless on ornamental Solanaceae. It is noted that the companies where CEVd was found, as well as other Czech growers to whom S. jasminoides were (or were intended be) sold, did not produce any solanaceaous crops. Because the probably of spreading CEVd to these solanaceous crops were considered minimal, no eradication measures were taken but monitoring of S. jasminoides plants will continue.
The pest status of Citrus exocortis viroid in the Czech Republic is officially declared as: Present, found at two companies in protected conditions.
Sources
NPPO of the Czech Republic (2011-03).