Infection of plants of the family Solanaceae

During carrying out a survey of host plants of viroid PSTVd in the Netherlands, Dutch plant protection service confirmed that a significant portion of ornamental plants Brugmansia cordata and Brugmansia suavolens and Solanum jasminoides were infected with PSTVd. As indicated in the documents of the producer, more than 300 probably infected plants were bought also by Slovene growers. These plants were sold in retail outlets, meaning that they were probably sold one by one.

Slovene phytosanitary service has, immediately upon having received the notification, put an effort in tracing the infected plants. Unfortunatelly, we managed to sample only one plant Brugmansia cordata, since the plants do not winter and had therefore been cut and put in the shelter before winter.

However, infection with PSTVd was confirmed already when the first sample was sampled in the laboratory of the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia! Recenlty, it has also been confirmed in Belgium on plants Brugmansia sp. and Solanum jasminoides. Dutch scientists do all their best to determine the origin of infection. Upon their suspicion, the infected plants S. jasminoides originate in Korea, where it might had been transmitted also from Europe. As for infection of Datura, the origin can not be determined.