First detection of Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid in Petunia in Slovenia
Within the framework of a survey on host plants of Potato spindle tuber viroid (Pospiviroid, PSTVd - EPPO A2 List), 30 leaf samples of Petunia spp. were collected by phytosanitary inspectors from 22 production sites in Slovenia. At the time of sampling (April 2010), no disease symptoms were observed on Petunia plants. These samples were tested for the presence of PSTVd by real-time RT-PCR according to the EPPO diagnostic protocol (EPPO Standard PM 7/33). One sample of cv. Surfinia Purple (collected from the coastal region) and one sample of cv. Surfinia Hot Pink 05 (collected near Ljubljana) gave positive results indicating the presence of PSTVd or Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid (TCDVd). Further analysis confirmed the occurrence of TCDVd in these 2 Petunia samples. Although TCDVd remains symptomless on Petunia spp., infected plants could be a source of infection for potato and tomato crops which can be damaged by TCDVd. Therefore, the infected Petunia stocks were destroyed. This is the first time that TCDVd is detected in Slovenia.
Sources
Viršček Marn M, Mavrič Pleško I (2010) First report of Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid in Petunia spp. in Slovenia. Plant Disease 94(9), p 1171.