Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is a highly contagious plant virus that affects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies. The virus is a serious threat to Australia’s tomato industry and can affect backyard growers.

There is no risk to food safety or human health from eating tomatoes with this disease.

 

Detection in Australia

On 29 May 2025, the Australian, state and territory governments, and affected industry agreed that it was not technically feasible to eradicate ToBRFV from Australia.

ToBRFV was originally detected in August 2024 in the Northern Adelaide Plains, South Australia. In January 2025 the virus was also detected at a single property in Victoria linked to a direct movement of tomato seedlings from South Australia.

The detections were the first time the virus had been confirmed in Australia.

For further information on the outbreak in both states visit pir.sa.gov.au/tobrfv and Agriculture Victoria.

Response program

South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and Agriculture Victoria led the response to these detections, aided by a $5 million Response Plan cost-shared by governments and industry parties.

Affected industry and government parties are now working together on a long-term management strategy on how to manage the impacts of ToBRFV.

Movement restrictions

Some jurisdictions have implemented restrictions on the movement of tomato, capsicum and chilli seeds, seedlings and fruit. Before moving any ToBRFV host material, check movement restrictions with the destination state:

Tracing

Seed tracing investigations have led to positive results for ToBRFV in seed lines imported into Australia that had offshore testing certification indicating negative results for the virus. These included:

  • four seed lines from Türkiye in late May 2024, of which only two seed lines had been planted.
  • one seed line imported from Israel in July and December 2023.

To date, no seed line has been confirmed as the source of the outbreak.

Seed import requirements

Australia depends heavily upon imported seeds to produce a wide range of crops, including tomatoes. Large quantities of these seeds are imported into Australia each year.

Australia’s seed import requirements are amongst the most stringent globally. Tomato and capsicum seeds must be laboratory tested to determine they are free from specified pathogens, including ToBRFV.

Further details of biosecurity import conditions can be located via BICON - Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions.

Your obligations

You must report any suspected signs of disease to the national Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881, which will put you in touch with your state or territory biosecurity agency.

Advice to producers

To protect your property from the virus, producers are advised to practice good plant hygiene by:

  • sourcing seed, seedlings and graft material that is free of the virus from a reliable supplier
  • testing a proportion of seed and seedlings for the virus
  • monitoring crops regularly for symptoms of the virus
  • making sure staff and visitors comply with on-farm biosecurity and hygiene practices
  • disinfecting tools, propagating material and equipment with sodium hypochlorite (1% solution of a 12% concentrate of pool chlorine). This is equal to 1 part pool chlorine to 10 parts water – or 1/3 of a cup in 1L water.
  • removing self-seeded or wild tomato plants and other hosts that could act as reservoirs for the virus.

Advice to home gardeners

Home gardeners are advised to:

  • keep a regular eye out for unusual pests or disease in your garden and report anything unusual immediately to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881
  • source local seed, seedlings and graft material that are free of the virus from a reliable supplier or nursery.

Advice for exporters

  • Exporters can contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) via horticultureexports@aff.gov.au if they have any questions or concerns regarding the export of commodities known to be a host of the virus.
  • For further information on international trade and exports, visit www.agriculture.gov.au.

About Tomato brown rugose fruit virus

ToBRFV is a highly contagious plant virus that affects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies.

The virus is on the National Priority Plant Pest list and regarded as a considerable threat to Australia’s $5.8 billion1 vegetable industry and the $2.8 billion plant nursery industry2 due to reduced yield and quality of produce.

Different plant varieties can present different symptoms, however, look for plants and fruit with disease signs such as:

  • mosaic patterns
  • yellowing and deformities on leaves
  • brown wrinkled spots
  • deformations
  • uneven ripening
  • reduced yield.

The virus spreads easily through contaminated tools, hands, clothing and direct plant to plant contact including grafting and cuttings. It can also be transmitted in seeds and irrigation water.

Some weeds, including black nightshade, silverleaf nightshade, fat hen, quinoa, petunia hybrids (garden plants), and buffalo bur are regarded as hosts for the virus.

The virus can remain in seed, plant waste and contaminated soil for months and once a crop is infected, the way to eradicate the virus is by destroying all infected plants and material.

The wide distribution of the virus globally has been attributed to the global movement of infected seed.

12022-23 Statistics on the production and value of a range of horticultural crops, ABS. Released 14/06/2024
22022-23 Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook