South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is continuing its response to the recent detection of the exotic tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) at two businesses in the Northern Adelaide Plains.
According to Agriculture Victoria, ToBRFV is a harmful pest that causes serious economic damage to tomato, capsicum and chilli crops – but has no known effects on human health. It can cause yield losses of up to 70 per cent and reduce marketable fruit yield by 10-15 per cent.
ToBRFV spreads incredibly quickly and easily, as it can survive in seeds, plant debris and contaminated soil for months, and can be difficult to manage once present in an environment. It easily overcomes the Tm-22 resistance gene that is commonly used against other serious Tobamoviruses.
Infected plants show symptoms such as mosaic patterns, yellowing and deformities on leaves, while fruits develop brown wrinkled spots, deformations and uneven ripening, reducing their yield and marketability. Different plant varieties can present different symptoms.
First reported in 2014 on tomatoes in Israel, the virus has since been reported in Europe, the Middle East, China, Mexico and the United States. The wide distribution of ToBRFV has been attributed to the global movement of seed.
Australian response
The response comes after PIRSA was notified by a commercial tomato growing facility of a suspected positive laboratory test result. The virus detection was first announced on 19 August, the first time it has been confirmed in Australia.
Quarantine and containment measures remain in place at the affected properties, aimed at preventing spread. The PIRSA operation is continuing to investigate the source of the outbreak and any potential further spread, with mitigation and tracing measures ongoing.
As part of the response, the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) – which comprises relevant government and affected industry parties and provides advice – has been activated. The CCEPP met last week to consider potential eradication and management options, and will continue to meet as the response develops.
AUSVEG, the Australian vegetable industry body, continues to support fresh market tomato growers during the ToBRFV response. The organisation is acting as the vegetable industry representative on the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD), representing levy-paying industries on the EPPRD during biosecurity responses affecting the industry.
The Australian Processing Tomato Research Council and Greenlife Industry Australia are the other industry representatives involved in the national response under EPPRD arrangements.
Other states have also taken action, with Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development advising any consignments of host fruit and packaging from the affected properties will be subject to quarantine upon arrival in the state as an interim measure.
On 24 August 2024, the Queensland Government issued a Movement Control Order (MCO) suspending the movement of tomato seeds, tomato seedlings, and tomato fruit into Queensland from South Australia, a precautionary measure to minimise the risk of ToBRFV spreading to Queensland. PIRSA is working with Queensland and will provide further advice as soon as possible.
New Zealand import suspension
The New Zealand Government also suspended Australian tomato imports on 22 August, to be reviewed by the beginning of next week. The suspension was initially for all states except Queensland, but was updated to include the entire nation on 23 August.
Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general, Stuart Anderson, said all of the country’s imported tomatoes from Australia currently come from Queensland, and not South Australia.
“So far tracing has not shown any affected material in Queensland, but we think it’s reasonable to be cautious while our counterparts continue their work,” said Anderson.
“As this tracing work continues, and out of an abundance of caution, we are extending our restrictions by temporarily suspending imports of tomatoes from Australia.
“There is nothing to suggest the virus is here at present. We’ll continue to closely monitor the situation in South Australia and continue to take any actions to protect New Zealand growers,” he said.
