Solanum viarum added to the EPPO Observation list
Solanum viarum (Solanaceae) is native to South America and is an invasive alien species in Asia, North and Central America and South Africa. It produces thousands of seeds per plant that are dispersed by small mammals and livestock. S. viarum was first observed in the EPPO region in the 2000s as a transient alien species (in the port area in Belgium) and in 2019 it was recorded in the Gorges du Gardon (FR) (RS 2021/070). In 2022, an Expert Working Group (EWG) was formed to risk assess S. viarum for the EPPO region. The overall likelihood of S. viarum entering the EPPO region is very low with a moderate uncertainty. Several pathways were assessed but there was no strong association with any identified pathways. The likelihood of further establishment outdoors is high with high uncertainty, where the latter reflects the small area of potential establishment in the EPPO region. S. viarum has a high spread potential as it can spread naturally, and via human assisted spread. In North America, S. viarum had an impact on pasture and cattle production in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but with improved management (biological and chemical control) impacts have reduced in recent times. The EWG considered the potential socio-economic impacts in the EPPO region will be low with a high uncertainty which reflects the unknowns relating to the plasticity of S. viarum and its ability to adapt to climatic and environmental parameters in the EPPO region. Overall, the pest risk analysis concluded that S. viarum has a moderate phytosanitary risk to the endangered area with a high uncertainty and recommended that it should be added to the EPPO Observation List. The PRA should be reviewed every ten years or when significant new information (e.g. establishment in the endangered area or occurrence of further interceptions along pathways) becomes available.
Sources
EPPO (2022) EPPO Technical Document No. 1085. Pest risk analysis for Solanum viarum. EPPO, Paris. Available at: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/SOLVI/documents