First report of Potato spindle tuber viroid in Hungary
The NPPO of Hungary recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of Potato spindle tuber viroid (Pospiviroid, PSTVd - EPPO A2 List) on its territory. There had been records published in the Hungarian literature of PSTVd in tomato and potato in 1979 but these are now considered doubtful by the NPPO. In June 2013, PSTVd was detected during a routine inspection on asymptomatic Solanum jasminoides in a small nursery (0.2 ha) located in Sarkad (Békés county), Southeastern Hungary. Samples were taken from a single mother plant of Solanum jasminoides and its daughter plants to detect possible latent infections. PTSVd was identified with molecular methods by the Plant Health and Molecular National Reference Laboratory of the NPPO. The possible origin of this infection is unknown. The grower had purchased the mother plant of S. jasminoides as a young plant from a garden centre in 2008, and several daughter plants had been produced since then. The first generation of plants produced in 2009 was tested and found free from PSTVd. No symptoms of PSTVd have ever been found on any of the plants produced by this grower. Phytosanitary measures were taken to eradicate PSTVd. The greenhouse was disinfected and placed under quarantine. The single mother plant and all daughter plants (8 potted plants) were burned.
The pest status of Potato spindle tuber viroid in Hungary is officially declared as: Transient, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Hungary (2013-09).