Acheivements

 

انجازات الكلية

​Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important crop, which can be infected by diverse pathogens. Among plant viruses, Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is a new Tobamovirus infecting tomato crop grown in protected environments, it has been discovered and identified for the first time in Jordan by Salem et al. (2016). This virus can infect up to 100 % of tomato plants and lead to mosaic discoloring and deformation of the fruits. The fruits clearly lose their value or are not marketable. ToBRFV is transmitted very quickly by seed and mechanically handled plants. The virus can survive on many surfaces and may be transmitted from there to host plants. Tomato and pepper are the main hosts for the virus. ToBRFV-control mainly relies on conventional typical measures against Tobamoviruses. One of these measures is the use of virus-tested seeds and planting material. Furthermore, strict sanitization measures have to be applied to prevent the virus movement to other production sites or further seed companies. However, one of the problematic characteristics of ToBRFV its ability to overcome all known genetic resistance, including the Tm-2², in tomato, and cause severe fruit symptoms on resistant varieties. So far, the available resistance-genes in conventional tomato varieties against other Tobamoviruses are not effective against ToBRFV. Since the disease is established in many countries where tomatoes are intensively grown a global disease management strategy is highly necessary. Currently, only little information on the virus is available and thus, further possible damage on other plants cannot be excluded. Potential host plants are also present outdoors that could at least serve as a reservoir for new infections. Due to its high damage potential for the tomato production, ToBRFV poses a considerable phytosanitary risk for Mediterranean countries, EU-Member States and US tomato industry. Based on the preliminary risk analysis it is assumed that the virus is able to rapidly establish and cause considerable damage. Therefore, ToBRFV outbreaks require immediate and full response at a very early stage, which includes its efficient and accurate on-site detection and management of the disease. Dr. Salem with other scientists have recently published a scientific review paper in the journal “Annual Review of Phytopathology" DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-021622-120703