First report of Groundnut ringspot virus in Finland
The NPPO of Finland recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the detection of Groundnut ringspot virus (Tospovirus, GRSV) on its territory. Following an official phytosanitary inspection carried out in 2015-03-31, the presence of GRSV was detected on 2015-05-07 in a commercial crop of potted Begonia spp. plants in Rovaniemi (Northern Finland). In the greenhouse concerned, only a few plants showed symptoms. Laboratory analysis (RT-PCR, sequencing, DAS-ELISA) confirmed the identity the virus. The origin of this infection is unknown but it is likely that the virus has been introduced with imported planting material. Eradication measures were immediately implemented: destruction of all symptomatic plants and control of the thrips vector (Frankliniella occidentalis).
The pest status of Groundnut ringspot virus in Finland is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.
EPPO note: according to the literature, GRSV was first described in 1999 from samples of peanut (Arachis hypogaea - Fabaceae) from South Africa and Brazil. This virus mainly infects Cucurbitaceae (Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis sativus) and Solanaceae (Capsicum spp., Nicotiana tabacum, Solanum lycopersicum, S. melongena), but it has also been detected in other cultivated plants or weeds belonging to different plant families. GRSV is transmitted by thrips (i.e. Frankliniella occidentalis, F. schultzei and F. gemina). Prior to this first record in Finland, GRSV was only known to occur in the Americas (Argentina, Brazil and USA) and South Africa. A tentative distribution list can be found in the EPPO Global Database: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/GRSV00/distribution
Sources
NPPO of Finland (2015-05).