Evaluation continues

Candidate

Although PSTVd in Capsicum annum seed has not been reported, a high probability rating of this is suggested by analogy, but this rating is associated with a high uncertainty (EFSA, 2011). However, if present, any infection arising from seed will likely spread rapidly to neighbouring susceptible plant species by mechanical means in the nursery (EFSA, 2011). Therefore seeds as plants for planting can be considered a main pathway for this pest/host/intended use combination.

Yes

PSTVd has been recorded in three pepper crops in New Zealand. The infected pepper plants displayed only very mild symptoms (i.e. a certain “waviness” or distortion of the leaf margins near the top of the plants). However, after artificial (mechanical) inoculation of PSTVd to pepper cv. Yolo Wonder, fruit size was significantly reduced. It was concluded (in the absence of other pospiviroids) that PSTVd has the potential to cause minor damage in pepper (EFSA, 2011). Peppers may be grown on premises growing other susceptible crops such as tomato, so could act as a source of transmission during the growing season.

Minor

Yes

Yes

Candidate

The infected pepper plants displayed only very mild symptoms (i.e. a certain “waviness” or distortion of the leaf margins near the top of the plants). However, after artificial (mechanical) inoculation of PSTVd to pepper cv. Yolo Wonder, fruit size was significantly reduced. It was concluded (in the absence of other pospiviroids) that PSTVd has the potential to cause minor damage in pepper (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Peppers may be grown on premises growing other susceptible crops such as tomato and potato, so could act as a source of transmission during the growing season.
Remark: there may be financial losses due to the costs of testing for and removing asymptomatic infected plants and these costs can be considerable. For example, In the Netherlands in 2006-2007 ornamental plants infected with PSTVd were traced (costing the government 700,000 Euros) and destroyed (costing industry 3 to 5 million Euros). The plants did not show any noticeable symptoms, but were destroyed to prevent infection spreading to tomato and potato crops.

candidate

There is no management option that can prevent infestation other than exclusion and avoiding the use of infected plants (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Since tomato pospiviroid infections result in variable symptoms, requirements for using plant propagation material (including seeds) that is certified as free from pospiviroids, based on surveillance and targeted tests, should be an effective measures. This position is reinforced by the situation observed on PSTVd: the official measures significantly reduced the overall level of PSTVd circulating within the EU territory, and the incidence of this pathogen. However it is not possible to conclude whether the reduction in PSTVd prevalence in ornamentals has led to a reduction of outbreaks in potato, tomato and pepper productions.

Evaluation continues

Candidate

Although PSTVd in Capsicum annum seed has not been reported, a high probability rating of this is suggested by analogy, but this rating is associated with a high uncertainty (EFSA-PLH, 2011). However, if present, any infection arising from seed will likely spread rapidly to neighbouring susceptible plant species by mechanical means in the nursery (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Therefore young plants as plants for planting (arising from infected seed, or mechanical means from other hosts), can be considered a main pathway for this pest/host/intended use combination.

Yes

PSTVd has been recorded in three pepper crops in New Zealand. The infected pepper plants displayed only very mild symptoms (i.e. a certain “waviness” or distortion of the leaf margins near the top of the plants). However, after artificial (mechanical) inoculation of PSTVd to pepper cv. Yolo Wonder, fruit size was significantly reduced. It was concluded (in the absence of other pospiviroids) that PSTVd has the potential to cause minor damage in pepper (EFSA, 2011). Peppers may be grown on premises growing other susceptible crops such as tomato, so could act as a source of transmission during the growing season.

Minor

Yes

Yes

Candidate

The infected pepper plants displayed only very mild symptoms (i.e. a certain “waviness” or distortion of the leaf margins near the top of the plants). However, after artificial (mechanical) inoculation of PSTVd to pepper cv. Yolo Wonder, fruit size was significantly reduced. It was concluded (in the absence of other pospiviroids) that PSTVd has the potential to cause minor damage in pepper (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Peppers may be grown on premises growing other susceptible crops such as tomato and potato, so could act as a source of transmission during the growing season.
Remark: there may be financial losses due to the costs of testing for and removing asymptomatic infected plants and these costs can be considerable. For example, In the Netherlands in 2006-2007 ornamental plants infected with PSTVd were traced (costing the government 700,000 Euros) and destroyed (costing industry 3 to 5 million Euros). The plants did not show any noticeable symptoms, but were destroyed to prevent infection spreading to tomato and potato crops.

candidate

There is no management option that can prevent infestation other than exclusion and avoiding the use of infected plants (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Since tomato pospiviroid infections result in variable symptoms, requirements for using plant propagation material (including seeds) that is certified as free from pospiviroids, based on surveillance and targeted tests, should be an effective measures. This position is reinforced by the situation observed on PSTVd: the official measures significantly reduced the overall level of PSTVd circulating within the EU territory, and the incidence of this pathogen. However it is not possible to conclude whether the reduction in PSTVd prevalence in ornamentals has led to a reduction of outbreaks in potato, tomato and pepper productions.

Evaluation continues

Candidate

A number of Capsicum annuum varieties are bred and grown for ornamental use and in the absence of other information, are assumed to react similarly as vegetable pepper types. Although PSTVd in Capsicum annum seed has not been reported, a high probability rating of this is suggested by analogy, but this rating is associated with a high uncertainty (EFSA-PLH, 2011). However, if present, any infection arising from seed will likely spread rapidly to neighbouring pepper plants or other susceptible plant species by mechanical means in the nursery (EFSA-PLH, 2011). This would have an indirect economic impact.
Therefore young plants as plants for planting (arising from infected seed, or by mechanical means from other hosts), can be considered a main pathway for this pest/host/intended use combination.

Yes

PSTVd has been recorded in three pepper crops in New Zealand, though none were ornamental varieties. The infected pepper plants displayed only very mild symptoms (i.e. a certain “waviness” or distortion of the leaf margins near the top of the plants). However, after artificial (mechanical) inoculation of PSTVd to pepper cv. Yolo Wonder, fruit size was significantly reduced. It was concluded (in the absence of other pospiviroids) that PSTVd has the potential to cause minor damage in pepper (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Peppers may be grown on premises growing other susceptible crops such as tomato, so could act as a source of transmission during the growing season. Remark: other ornamental solanaceous hosts such as S. jasminoides or Brugmansia sp. could also act in a similar way.

Minor

Yes

Yes

Candidate

Direct economic impact of PSTVd is acceptable on ornamentals. Navarro et al. (2009) demonstrated that the same isolate of PSTVd identified on symptomless S. jasminoides plants was found in a symptomatic plant of tomato grown close of the ornamentals. Experts concluded that ornamentals could represent a source of inoculum for susceptible crops produced at the same place of production.

candidate

Evaluation continues

Candidate

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is a plant pathogen that causes disease in tomatoes. From interception records in the Europhyt database, there is evidence for the presence of PSTVd in tomato seeds imported into Europe from production areas outside the EU. Transmission of PSTVd through seed has been reported in tomato (EFSA-PLH, 2011). The percentage of infected seedlings, grown from seeds from plants infected with PSTVd ranged from 2 to 31% in tomato (NZ PRA, 2012). Seed disinfection techniques are not effective in this host. There is experimental and circumstantial evidence that PSTVd can be spread between crops by mechanical transmission in tomato and thus any infection arising from seed will likely spread rapidly to neighbouring susceptible plant species in the nursery (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Therefore seeds as plants for planting are considered a main pathway for this pest/host/intended use combination.

Yes

All pospiviroids cause similar symptoms in tomato, independent of the viroid species. With PSTVd, severity may vary with the tomato cultivar. Symptoms are most conspicuous when plants become infected at early stages of development and when grown at high temperatures and light intensity. The first symptoms are growth reduction and chlorosis in the upper leaves, subsequently, this may develop into permanent stunting and bunchy growth. Occasionally, plants may either die or partially recover. Usually, symptoms are observed along rows in the fields and greenhouses, indicating that the viroid spreads mechanically during crop handling. Fruit production generally stops on infected plants, yield loss is strongly dependent on the age at which plants become infected. Early infection, before fruit setting, will result in close to 100% loss, while losses associated with later infections are more variable. Delay in fruit ripening, storage life and management costs are also likely (EFSA, 2011). Yield loss in tomatoes has been reported as significant, due to reduced fruit size and flowers can abort resulting in no fruit, and the plant can be totally malformed in severe cases (MAF, 2012).

Major

No

Candidate

Overall there is ample evidence that significant yield losses may result from pospiviroid infections in tomato and the impact is therefore expected to be major, with low uncertainty (EFSA-PLH, 2011). The economic impact is evaluated as unacceptable on Tomato. According to New Zealand, Import risk analysis (MAF, 2012), yield loss in tomatoes has been reported as significant, due to reduced fruit size and flowers can abort resulting in no fruit, and the plant can be totally malformed in severe cases.

candidate

There is no management option that can prevent infestation other than exclusion and avoiding the use of infected plants (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Since tomato pospiviroid infections result in variable symptoms, requirements for using plant propagation material (including seeds) that is certified as free from pospiviroids, based on surveillance and targeted tests, should be an effective measures. This position is reinforced by the situation observed on PSTVd: the official measures significantly reduced the overall level of PSTVd circulating within the EU territory, and the incidence of this pathogen. However it is not possible to conclude whether the reduction in PSTVd prevalence in ornamentals has led to a reduction of outbreaks in potato, tomato and pepper productions.

Evaluation continues

Candidate

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is a plant pathogen that causes disease in tomatoes. From interception records in the Europhyt database, there is evidence for the presence of PSTVd in tomato seeds imported into Europe from production areas outside the EU. Transmission of PSTVd through seed has been reported in tomato (EFSA-PLH, 2011). The percentage of infected seedlings, grown from seeds from plants infected with PSTVd ranged from 2 to 31% in tomato (MAF, 2012). Seed disinfection techniques are not effective in this host. There is experimental and circumstantial evidence that PSTVd can be spread between crops by mechanical transmission in tomato and thus any infection arising from seed will likely spread rapidly to neighbouring susceptible plant species in the nursery (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Therefore plants for planting (arising from infected seed, or mechanical means from other hosts) are considered a main pathway for this pest/host/intended use combination.

Yes

All pospiviroids cause similar symptoms in tomato, independent of the viroid species. With PSTVd, severity may vary with the tomato cultivar. Symptoms are most conspicuous when plants become infected at early stages of development and when grown at high temperatures and light intensity. The first symptoms are growth reduction and chlorosis in the upper leaves, subsequently, this may develop into permanent stunting and bunchy growth. Occasionally, plants may either die or partially recover. Usually, symptoms are observed along rows in the fields and greenhouses, indicating that the viroid spreads mechanically during crop handling. Fruit production generally stops on infected plants, yield loss is strongly dependent on the age at which plants become infected. Early infection, before fruit setting, will result in close to 100% loss, while losses associated with later infections are more variable. Delay in fruit ripening, storage life and management costs are also likely (EFSA, 2011). Yield loss in tomatoes has been reported as significant, due to reduced fruit size and flowers can abort resulting in no fruit, and the plant can be totally malformed in severe cases (MAF, 2012).

Major

No

Candidate

Overall there is ample evidence that significant yield losses may result from pospiviroid infections in tomato and the impact is therefore expected to be major, with low uncertainty (EFSA-PLH, 2011). The economic impact is evaluated as unacceptable on Tomato. According to New Zealand, Import risk analysis (MAF, 2012), yield loss in tomatoes has been reported as significant, due to reduced fruit size and flowers can abort resulting in no fruit, and the plant can be totally malformed in severe cases.

candidate

There is no management option that can prevent infestation other than exclusion and avoiding the use of infected plants (EFSA-PLH, 2011). Since tomato pospiviroid infections result in variable symptoms, requirements for using plant propagation material (including seeds) that is certified as free from pospiviroids, based on surveillance and targeted tests, should be an effective measures. This position is reinforced by the situation observed on PSTVd: the official measures significantly reduced the overall level of PSTVd circulating within the EU territory, and the incidence of this pathogen. However it is not possible to conclude whether the reduction in PSTVd prevalence in ornamentals has led to a reduction of outbreaks in potato, tomato and pepper productions.