Potato spindle tuber viroid eradicated in Western Australia

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) was detected for the first time in an isolated hydroponic greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) crop in the great southern region of Western Australia (WA). An urgent eradication plan was activated because of the highly contagious nature of the pathogen. The tomato crop on the infected property was destroyed and the greenhouses and surrounding area were decontaminated. Surveys of 15 other hydroponic tomato crops did not detect any other PSTVd infected tomato plants in WA