June news
ToBRFV – the situation in Australia continues to change
As this goes to print, Agriculture Victoria have confirmed that a previously decontaminated greenhouse in Victoria has replanted tomato seedlings that have tested positive for ToBRFV within a very short time. It is possible that this disease has been picked up from the growing operation, but it is also possible that the seedlings, which were propagated in NSW, arrived at the site already infected.
This is important for tomato growers in NZ for many reasons:
It’s a reminder that ToBRFV is a highly virulent disease which is difficult to contain and difficult to get rid of.
NZ tomato growers can’t wait until tomorrow to make changes at their own operations – the time to act is NOW to increase hygiene measures. This includes:
- Don’t let anyone into your greenhouse (GH) that isn’t directly involved in growing
- Wash and sanitise hands before entering the GH every time
- Walk through a sanitation foot bath / mat at the entrance to the compartment
- Wear dedicated clothes and shoes for the GH
- Don’t borrow tools or equipment from other growers
- Keep plastic crates out of your GH – have them in the packhouse. Don’t trust that the washing process has removed pathogens like ToBRFV
- Know where your seeds have come from and that they’ve been through testing before entering NZ
- Ask for your seedlings to be tested for ToBRFV before they leave the nursery
- As a long term measure talk to your seed company about trialling ToBRFV resistant seeds – even if it’s just a small number of plants
This final point is one that TomatoesNZ is currently working with NZPPI on. They have a Plant Pass scheme that nurseries can sign up to. We are looking to have basic hygiene measures included in Plant Pass to give growers assurance. The ultimate assurance though will be through a negative ToBRFV certificate before you accept the seedlings into your GH. As this is the third time that a nursery in Australia appears to have been at the centre of a ToBRFV detection, nurseries in NZ are understandably concerned and open to improving their everyday practices. TomatoesNZ will continue to push the messages about hygiene and testing with them as well as with our own growers.
Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) & Liberibacter Workshop
Potatoes NZ and TomatoesNZ have teamed up to run a workshop on the important topic of TPP and Liberibacter. Thanks to funding from VICE, this workshop will provide information on latest research from both the potato and tomato industries. Presentations will be given by Frances MacDonald, Jessica Dohmmen-Vereijssen both from Plant and Food Research, Roger Blyth from Seed and Field Canterbury, Lex Dillon part of the TNZ trials into controlling TPP with biologicals as part of an IPM.
The details are:
Date: 26th June
Time: 10am – 12.30pm (and then lunch for those attending in person)
Where available online and in person at 49 Cronin Road.
A recording of the webinar will be made available after. There will be plenty of time for those attending live to ask questions.
RSVP in person: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSVP26June
RSVP online: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f5ba7ad0-a236-4aaf-8558-6b2e0d78f632@7a94b98b-ac39-4efe-b3bf-5dd5d82b589d
Finally!
I still have a few tickets available for growers to attend the HortNZ conference in Wellington, 26th-27th August. These are worth $639 (2 days of conference plus the Gala Dinner on 27th August). There will be sessions on energy, our greenhouse tomato integrated pest management guide and much more. Book your trip to the Capital and come and network with like-minded growers.
Email me to receive one of the free tickets Dinah.cohen@tomatoesnz.co.nz