Ability to Respond Total:11 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:Low
Confidence Notes:This complex of various diseases affecting Tomato is poorly understood despite significant threat. Added expert opinion required.
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
The tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, is prone to a large number of begomoviruses (Geminiviridae) and other virus and virus-like diseases. Many begomoviruses are quarantine pests for the United States.
5
Spread Amount
ToSLCV and the other begomoviruses are transmitted between plants by whiteflies and are widespread in tomatoes and peppers. The begomoviruses are persistent in the whitefly and retained for anywhere from a few weeks to the entire life of the vector.
5
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Causal organisms of diseases in Lycopersicon, Capsicum, Solanum, Chenopodium spp., Polygonum spp., Atriplex spp., Halogetum spp., Nicotiana spp., Lepidium (synonyms Senebiera, Coronopus) spp., Spergularia spp., Amaranthus spp., and Malva spp.
2
Agricultural
High potential for severe damage to food and ornamental horticultural crops
5
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Impacts home gardens and landscapes.
2
Health
0
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
19
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Plant pathogens, including viruses and viroids are extremely difficult to detect during a port of entry inspection of the host plants, particularly in the absence of symptoms.
1
Control
Eradication of Bemesia whiteflies is extremely difficult, and vectors bearing the disease are highly mobile.
2
Tools in Place
Notes
Score
Entry
USDA Aphis imposes bans on importation of known host plants. Internal controls make spread likely due to difficult detection.
4
Control
Additional control mandates are necessary
3
Outreach
Outreach limited to growers in infested areas. Limited benefit to public awareness.
