Detection, Characterization, and Distribution of the First Case of Pepino Mosaic Virus in Aotearoa New Zealand

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., family Solanaceae) represents one of the most economically valuable horticultural crops worldwide. Tomato production is affected by numerous emerging plant viruses. We identified, for the first time in New Zealand (NZ), Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) in greenhouse grown tomato crops using a combination of methods from electron microscopy and herbaceous indexing to RT-qPCR and high-throughput sequencing. Phylogenetic and genomic analysis of a near-complete PepMV genome determined that the detected strain belonged to the mild form of the CH2 lineage of the virus. Subsequently, a delimiting survey of PepMV was conducted, and PepMV was detected at four additional locations. PCR-derived sequences obtained from samples collected from different greenhouses and from herbaceous indicator plants were identical to the original sequence. Since PepMV has never been reported in NZ before, seed pathways are speculated to be the most likely source of entry into the country.