ToBRFV or Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus

What is tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)?

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus is a very harmful and highly infectious virus for tomatoesfirst identified on tomatoes in 2014 in Israel and in Jordan in 2015. Since then there have been outbreaks throughout the world where the virus causes major concerns for growers of tomatoes and capsicum. The virus is rapidly transmitted by contact and propagation material. Human trade of infected seeds or seedlings help spread the ToBRFV. It can spread easily within a glasshouse. Even bumblebees are suspected of carrying the ToBRFV, transmitting healthy tomato plants during pollination (mechanically). Symptoms of ToBRFV makes the fruit unmarketable. Once the ToBRFV is active, control measures are very limited and mainly rely on elimination of infected plants and strict hygiene measures. The ToBRFV can survive in water, seeds, soil and plants for a very long time. The length of time is yet unknown. 

Is it possible to control tomato brown rugose fruit virus?

If you would like to control tomato brown rugose it is wise to recognize the various symptoms of this fruit virus. The symptoms devaluate the fruits and diminish the yields, or could even result in unmarketable harvests. What are the most common symptoms of ToBRFV?

• Head and side shoots develop pale patches on younger leaves. This ‘chlorotic marbling’ can also occur on the fruit itself.
• Leaves of the tomato look unhealthy, for example crumpled, deformed or narrowed.
• The stems show brown streaks.
• Brown wrinkles called rugose develop on the fruit.

Even if symptoms are recognized in an early stage,  control of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is almost impossible.

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