First report of Tomato torrado virus in France
In June 2008, tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. ‘Fer de lance’) grown in glasshouses near Perpignan (Southern France) showed symptoms resembling those of Tomato torrado virus (ToTV - EPPO Alert List). Laboratory analysis (RT-PCR) confirmed the presence of ToTV in 4 symptomatic plants. The presence of other tomato viruses was also studied in these 4 plants, and the presence of Pepino mosaic virus (EPPO Alert List) was detected in all samples. In addition, whitefly transmission experiments were conducted with Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci, and confirmed that both whitefly species can transmit ToTV. In April 2009, the presence of ToTV was again detected in the same area near Perpignan. This is the first time that ToTV is reported from France.
The situation of Tomato torrado virus in France can be described as follows: Present, detected near Perpignan (South) in a small number of tomato samples.
Sources
Verdin E, Gognalons P, Wipf-Scheibel C, Bornard I, Ridray G, Schoen L, Lecoq H (2009) First report of Tomato torrado virus in tomato crops in France. Plant Disease 93(12), 1352-1353.