Eradication of Tobacco ringspot virus from the Netherlands
In 2006, an outbreak of Tobacco ringspot virus (Nepovirus, TRSV - EPPO A2 List) was detected in the Netherlands on Hemerocallis and Iris plants (EPPO RS 2007/007). Although the origin of this outbreak could not be identified, it was suspected that it was related to imports from the USA. The outbreak concerned 4 cultivars of Hemerocallis (out of a total of 912) grown by 3 companies and 2 species of Iris (Iris siberica and I. ensata) grown by 1 company. In total, 56 soil samples associated with infected plants were tested for the presence of the nematode vector Xiphinema americanum (which is not known to occur in the Netherlands). All tested samples were negative. Monitoring surveys for TRSV are routinely carried out in the Netherlands, but in 2007 and 2008 a more specific surveillance programme was implemented. Samples of ornamental plants (Bacopa, Gladiolus, Hemerocallis, Hosta, Lilium, Lobelia, Phlox, Portulaca) were tested for the presence of TRSV. All tested samples gave negative results. It is noted that Iris species were not included in this survey because all commercially available cultivars had already been tested after the first detection of the virus in 2006. The NPPO of the Netherlands considers that TRSV has been eradicated.
The pest status of Tobacco ringspot virus in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Absent, eradicated.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands, 2008-12.
INTERNET (last retrieved in 2009-02)
Website of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. Pest record - Completion of specific surveillance for Tobacco ringspot virus confirming pest freedom. http://www/minlvn.nl/