Journal Article
Findings of tobacco ringspot virus in ornamentals in the Netherlands from 1997 to 2020 indicate a need for evaluation of its European Union quarantine status
R. Schoen; C. E. de Krom; M. Westenberg; M. Botermans; A. S. van Bruggen; E. T. M. Meekes; L. Didden; M. Hooftman; J. W. Roenhorst
European Journal of Plant Pathology · Vol. 171, Issue 3 · pp. 421-429 · 2025
Abstract
Occasional findings of tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV) in the Netherlands since 1997, were the reason for large-scale surveys for TRSV in vegetatively propagated ornamental plants and for its vector, Xiphinema americanum sensu lato in soil. TRSV was identified in thirteen ornamental species, comprising over 30 cultivars, while X. americanum s.l. was not found. This report also describes a newly designed and validated real-time RT-PCR and includes phylogenetic analyses of (near) complete genome sequences from available TRSV isolates and NCBI GenBank accessions in relation to their metadata of host and origin. Overall, the results suggest that TRSV entered the Netherlands on multiple occasions and was further spread by vegetative propagation. Furthermore, TRSV seems to be more widespread in the European Union (EU) than previously assumed, indicating that the current regulatory measures do not guarantee the absence of TRSV. Alternative strategies to protect the crops at risk are discussed, and reconsideration of the regulatory status of TRSV in the EU is recommended.