First report of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus in Portugal
The NPPO of Portugal recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first detections of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (Begomovirus, ToLCNDV – EPPO Alert List) on its territory. In July 2019, during an official survey, ToLCNDV was detected in one plant of Cucurbita pepo (cv. Brilhante), in a greenhouse located in the Algarve region (county of Olhão). In this greenhouse (17 000 m²), the following cucurbit crops were grown: Cucurbita pepo (4 000 m²), Cucumis melo (9 000 m²) and Cucumis sativus (4 000 m²). Samples had been taken from all different crops, but the only positive result was obtained from the C. pepo sample.
The presence of ToLCNDV was also detected in a greenhouse located in the Azores (São Miguel Island, county of Ponta Delgada) in plants of C. pepo. In the greenhouse (10 000 m²), the following plants were grown: C. pepo (500 m2), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum - 1 800 m²), and cucumber (Cucumis sativus – 1 200 m²) and non-host plants (6 500 m²). About 20% of C. pepo plants showed symptoms. Other hosts did not show any symptoms. Leaf samples were collected from symptomatic C. pepo and tested positive for ToLCNDV.
Phytosanitary measures aiming at eradication will be taken in both cases.
The pest status of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus in Portugal is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Portugal (2019-07, 2019-08).