Hektar

Key Features:

1. Symptoms:

   • Fruits develop rough surfaces with deformities or cracks.
   • Necrotic spots or discoloration may appear.
   • Other parts of the plant, such as leaves and stems, may show signs like spotting, yellowing, or stunted growth.

2. Common Hosts:

   • Tomatoes (e.g., Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus or ToBRFV).
   • Peppers.

3. Transmission:

   • Through infected seeds.
   • By mechanical contact (contaminated gardening tools, dirty hands).
   • By biological vectors such as insects (e.g., aphids, thrips).

4. Impact:

   • Significant reduction in crop yield.
   • Economic losses in the agricultural and commercial supply chain.
   • Export restrictions in some cases due to phytosanitary regulations.

Examples of Viruses Causing Rugose Fruit Symptoms:

1. Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV):

   • Severely impacts tomato and pepper crops.
   • Causes brown spots and deformities on fruits.
   • Highly contagious and difficult to control.

2. Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV):

   • Primarily affects tomatoes.
   • Causes mosaic patterns on leaves and deformed or rough fruits.

Prevention and Control Measures:

1. Cultural Hygiene:

   • Disinfect tools, hands, and gardening equipment.
   • Remove and destroy infected plants.

2. Use of Healthy Plant Material:

   • Certified seeds and seedlings free from pathogens.

3. Crop Rotation:

   • Avoid planting the same species in the same fields consecutively.

4. Vector Control:

   • Reduce populations of insects that can spread the viruses.

5. Research and Development:

   • Development of virus-resistant varieties.
   • Close monitoring of crops for early detection.