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Tomato virus alert

Tomato seed and plants potentially contaminated with tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)

From Meg McGrath, Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center, mtm3@cornell.edu:

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) has been found this spring on seed of two tomato varieties being sold to growers and gardeners for outdoor production.  This emerging virus (first detected in the U.S. in 2018) is considered more serious than others because of the ease of spread when handling infected plants, the virus’s long-term survival ability and symptoms rendering fruit unmarketable. ToBRFV has primarily been a concern for greenhouse tomato producers because seed contamination has involved some greenhouse varieties and greenhouse tomato production entails handling plants frequently, plus these are large operations with many plants. 

Recommendations:

  • If you are notified by a seed company regarding infected ToBRFV seed or see announcements about seed you purchased being contaminated, the seed and any plants grown from them, NYS Ag & Markets requires they be destroyed NOT composted.
  • Seed lots of varieties for outdoor production that have been determined so far to have ToBRFV are Sweet Prince Lot #s NN21-SL-SP and NN22-SLSP2 and Brandywise Lot # NS 10-11-br.
  • Ask the seed source for other tomato varieties and peppers you are growing if the seed was tested for ToBRFV.  Note: tomato and pepper are the only hosts.
  • This virus can survive in soil for years, thus there is potential for re-occurrence in future years in addition to potential for spread to other tomato and pepper plants with handling.
  • There are no treatments/sprays that will cure plants of ToBRFV or any other plant virus.
  • Handling infected seed is not known to allow seed-to-seed transmission of ToBRFV because the virus resides inside the seed not on the seed surface.
  • Handling infected plants followed by handling healthy host plants is a transmission method.
  • Minimize touching plants with hands, clothing and tools. Brushing plants to obtain sturdier stems is a dangerous practice because it may move viruses like ToBRFV, as well as bacterial pathogens.  Watering seedlings is not considered to have enough force to transfer ToBRFV.
  • When plants are handled, such as during transplanting, use hand sanitizer on gloved hands between plants when there is concern ToBRFV might be present. Lysol is best choice.
  • Check plants for symptoms at least once a week.  Symptoms include mosaic and mottle, yellowing, bubbling in the leaf blade, and a ‘fern leaf’ look. Symptoms will likely start to appear by about 4-6 weeks after seeding, but some varieties remain free from symptoms even though infected. See below for a symptom image guide.
  • If suspect symptoms seen, photograph and contact your local extension specialist for assistance with submitting samples for testing.
  • Follow strict sanitation practices if you have infected plants, including disposing or disinfecting all clothing, tools, trays, pots, hoses, benches, etc. that came in contact with the plants. Disinfect surfaces where seedling trays have been with diluted bleach.  An appropriate dilution is 8.2 fluid ounces of an 8.25% bleach plus water to obtain 1 gallon of solution. Check whether the concentration listed on the label of the bleach you have is 8.25% and adjust if it is not.

More information and images of symptoms:

Please Share Your Experience:

If you purchased contaminated seed and grow other tomato and pepper plants this year, it would be valuable to learn whether ToBRFV developed on your other plants to refine our recommendations. Theoretically, it can be spread very easily, especially before you begin taking precautions.  Thank you!

Created by Meg McGrath, with input from Margery Daughtrey, Margaret Kelly, Marc Fuchs, Karen Snover-Clift and Elizabeth Lamb.

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