Situation of Potato spindle tuber viroid in Austria in 2008
As reported in EPPO RS 2008/009, an incursion of Potato spindle tuber viroid (Pospiviroid, PSTVd – EPPO A2 list) was reported on ornamental Solanaceae at the beginning of 2008 and was successfully eradicated. However, PSTVd was detected again during an official survey in Vienna, Oberösterreich, Niederösterreich and Steiermark.
In Vienna, PSTVd was detected on tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Sakura) at a producer of propagation material and on Solanum jasminoides in a nursery. In both cases, eradication measures were imposed: all plants were destroyed; production sites and all machinery were disinfected. Investigations showed that tomato plants had been grown from seeds delivered from Germany to Austria with a plant passport from the Netherlands. The remaining seeds of this cultivar were seized and they also tested positive for PSTVd. All NPPOs concerned were informed. The origin of the infected S. jasminoides plants could not be determined.
Both in Oberösterreich and Steiermark, PSTVd was detected on S. jasminoides plants in a nursery. All plants were immediately destroyed and storage places were disinfected. The origin of the mother plants could no longer be traced.
In Niederösterreich, PSTVd was detected on S. jasminoides in a nursery, as well as on S. jasminoides and Solanum rantonnetii in garden centres. In all cases, eradication measures were imposed. Furthermore, at the nursery, storage places were disinfected and the sale of S. jasminoides plants was suspended. The origin of the S. jasminoides plants is unknown but the S. rantonnetii plants had been delivered from Germany. The German NPPO was informed accordingly.
The pest status of Potato spindle tuber viroid in Austria is officially declared as: Local outbreaks, eradicated.
Sources
NPPO of Austria, 2008-08.