New pest risk analyses (PRAs) on the UK Plant Health Portal

20 Apr 2023

APHA / Defra have published a number of new pest risk analyses (PRAs) on the UK Plant Health Portal, the details of which can be found at: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/pests-and-diseases/pest-risk-analyses/.

UK PRAs have been conducted for:

• Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV), a tobamovirus that is known to infect solanaceous crops (mainly tomato, peppers, and aubergine). It was first described in tomato crops from Mexico in 2013. Since then, it has been reported from tomato crops in an increasing number of countries around the world, and first reported from the EU in 2015.
• Corythucha ciliata (the plane lacebug) is a hemipteran insect, native to North America and now also present in mainland Europe. It mainly feeds on Platanus (plane) trees. It is not known to be present in the UK, but has been intercepted and treated for in the past.
• Lycorma delicatula (spotted lanternfly) is a hemipteran insect, native to parts of Asia and now also present in the USA. It is a pest with a wide host range and has a particular preference for Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven). Lycorma delicatula is not known to be present in the UK or the rest of Europe and has been spreading rapidly in the northeast states of the United States of America (USA) by hitchhiking in egg form, having first been reported there in 2014.

An EFSA opinion has also been conducted for solanaceous pospiviroids (Citrus exocortis viroid, Columnea latent viroid, Pepper chat fruit viroid and Tomato planta macho viroid). These pathogens can cause significant damage to tomato and pepper crops and are absent from GB. We are seeking views on a future policy approach for these pospiviroids, following the EFSA opinion.

Comments are invited until 28^th June 2023 and should be sent to plantpestsrisks@defra.gov.uk.

Further details of how to respond along with a summary of each pest, the key issues identified in the PRA, the consultation and the Defra PRA process can also be found by following the link above.