Brown crinkle virus detected in a batch of tomatoes from Turkey

Last week, during quarantine phytosanitary control at the temporary storage warehouse of Technoprom LLC, officials of the territorial department of Rosselkhoznadzor for the Nizhny Novgorod region and the Republic of Mari El discovered a quarantine object - the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). The virus was detected on three consignments of fresh tomatoes weighing a total of 59.1 tonnes originating in Turkey.

Confirmation of the presence of a quarantine object was obtained after a laboratory examination by specialists from the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Federal Center for Animal Health Protection" (FGBU "ARRIAH"), subordinate to Rosselkhoznadzor.

In accordance with plant quarantine legislation, the import of such products is prohibited. Therefore, the specified batches of tomatoes were returned to the sender.

Tomato brown crinkle virus infects fresh tomatoes and peppers. When infected, characteristic wrinkled areas appear on the fruit. Necrosis may also be observed on the peduncle, calyx and petiole. Yellow or brown spots with signs of mottling may appear on the fruit. The fruits are deformed and ripen unevenly. The virus is transmitted through seeds, contact (tools, hands, clothing, when plants come into contact), grafting material, and can also be spread by pollinators such as bees and bumblebees.