Russia's largest greenhouse complex, "Ovoschevod," located in the Volgograd region, has been placed under a one-year quarantine after the pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) was detected in its tomato crops, according to a Rosselkhoznadzor notice cited by the news agency Vysota 102.
- Infection area: 25.6 ha
- Buffer zone: 174.9 ha
- Quarantine zone: 200.5 ha
PepMV is a quarantine pathogen that causes marbling and brown wrinkling of tomato fruits, sharply reducing market quality. Under the quarantine order:
- Tomatoes and other plants grown within the infected area may not be used for seed purposes.
- Infected plants and plant waste must not leave the site unless they are disinfected or sent for incineration.
- Tools, farm machinery, vehicles, clothing, and footwear used inside the zone must be cleaned of plant debris and disinfected (chlorine treatment) before use elsewhere.
- Control measures include uprooting and burying infected plants at a depth of at least 2.5 m for at least two years, or thermally treating plant waste for disposal. Additionally, disinfecting irrigation lines with UV or chlorine solutions, replacing soil, and eliminating insect pollinators are also effective measures.
"Ovoschevod" supplies most of the tomatoes and cucumbers consumed in the Volgograd Region and ships produce to other areas. The facility is known for strict biosecurity; employees are even barred from bringing salads to work to prevent outside contamination.
Rosselkhoznadzor will conduct follow-up checks in one year to verify full eradication of the virus.
Source: v102.ru