New diagnostic suite for ToBRFV launched

Agdia has announced full commercialization of their new ELISA Reagent Set for the detection of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). This ELISA is the first in a suite of three ToBRFV diagnostic assays to be launched by Agdia in the first half of 2021.

The standard reagent set format is available to order immediately, with pre-coated Pathoscreen^® kits available in the coming weeks. A field-deployable, rapid isothermal molecular test to detect ToBRFV is also expected to be commercialized in January of 2021, followed by an ImmunoStrip^® lateral flow device in Q1 or Q2 of 2021.

Agdia’s ToBRFV ELISA has been tested against tomato and pepper seeds and is fully compatible with the PBS-based seed extraction method commonly used for tomato and pepper seed in ISF’s International Rules for Seed Health Testing by ISHI-Veg. This test has also been validated against foliar tissue samples of representative varieties of tomato, pepper and eggplant.

Agdia's ELISA for ToBRFV exhibits sensitivity and specificity to the target pathogen compared to all other ELISA offerings available on the market. Very low cross-reactivity was observed in a limited number of high titer Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) samples (Nearly all TMV or ToMV-infected samples were found to have no cross-reactivity). Furthermore, no cross-reactivity was observed with high titer samples from other Tobamoviruses, including Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus (KGMMV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) and Zucchini Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (ZGMMV).

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus is a resistance-breaking Tobamovirus that causes severe economic losses in solanaceous crops, including Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and Capsicum spp. (pepper). It causes symptoms typical of Tobamoviruses that include mosaic and chlorosis on the leaves and discoloration and deformation of the fruit.  These symptoms decrease yield and render fruit unmarketable. 

Tomato and pepper seeds, transplants and fruits from certain countries are subject to a USDA-APHIS Federal Import Order in the United States. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus has also been classified as a quarantine pathogen by EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization).