Deadly Tomato Virus Confirmed at French Farm
France’s agriÂculÂture minÂisÂter conÂfirmed that tomaÂtoes on a farm in Brittany were infected with the tomato brown rugose fruit virus, leadÂing to the quarÂanÂtine and destrucÂtion of the affected greenÂhouses. The virus, which poses a threat to pepÂpers and chili plants, has been spreadÂing globÂally since it was first detected in Israel in 2014, with recent cases in the Netherlands and Spain.
France’s agriÂculÂture minÂisÂter Didier Guillaume has conÂfirmed that tomaÂtoes on a farm in Brittany were found to be infected with the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV).
The affected farm has been placed under quarÂanÂtine and the greenÂhouses will be destroyed.
See Also:Agriculture NewsThere is no known treatÂment for the devÂasÂtatÂing virus which can wipe out entire crops and poses a threat to pepÂpers and chili plants.
The virus was first detected in Israel in 2014 and has since hit crops in Spain, Italy, the U.S. and Mexico,
Britain conÂfirmed its first cases last July and in Germany, an outÂbreak was eradÂiÂcated when infected plants were uprooted and destroyed before the soil was disÂinÂfected.
Earlier this month Horticulture Week reported that ToBRFV had been detected in imported seeds in the Netherlands and disÂcovÂered in Spanish greenÂhouses.
The virus, which retains its power to infect over a long period of time, is spread through direct conÂtact and by infected seeds, plants and fruits.
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