Recent viroid disease outbreaks in greenhouse tomatoes in North and Central America and their management

Authors: Ling, Kai-Shu

Submitted to: Plant Management Network
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2015
Publication Date: 9/5/2015
Publication URL: http:www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/tomato/viroid
Citation: Ling, K. 2015. Recent viroid disease outbreaks in greenhouse tomatoes in North and Central America and their management. Plant Management Network. http:www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/tomato/viroid.

Interpretive Summary: Greenhouse tomato production has increased significantly in North America with nearly half of the U.S. fresh tomatoes now being greenhouse-grown. However, several high-profile viroid disease outbreaks in greenhouse tomatoes in North and Central America in recent years have caused great concern to greenhouse tomato growers and vegetable seed producers. Because viroid-resistant tomato cultivars are not available, if sound disease management strategies are not taken to prevent viroid introduction from contaminated seed and further viroid spread through mechanical transmission, viroid disease epidemics are likely to become a greater issue in future growing seasons. This presentation will help consultants, county agents, tomato growers, seed producers, federal and state regulators, and other practitioners in North America and around the world better understand the emerging viroid diseases of tomato, their distribution, detection and management tactics. By the end of this presentation, the practitioner should know more about the tomato-infecting viroids, their diagnosis and detection, prevention and management.

Technical Abstract: Greenhouse tomato productions in North America have suffered from several high profile viroid disease outbreaks in recent years. In this presentation, I will summarize and briefly describe each of these viroid disease outbreak and their relationship. What are viroids and their transmission through seed and mechanical means? What key factors that affect viroid disease epidemic in a greenhouse? The technologies in disease diagnosis and viroid detection. Which chemicals are the most effective disinfectants to prevent viroid mechanical transmission? With the knowledge regarding the factors affecting viroid disease epidemiology, the practitioner should know how to prevent and manage a viroid disease outbreak in greenhouse tomato productions.