BIOSECURITY ALERT: TOMATO BROWN RUGOSE FRUIT VIRUS (ToBRFV)
ToBRFV was 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.
ToBRFV is a plant virus (Tobamovirus) of tomatoes and capsicums.
- In tomatoes, leaves show symptoms of discolouration, mosaic and mottling patterns or reduced leaf size. The tomato fruit presents yellowing or brown areas and wrinkled (rugose) skin. Fruit may also be deformed and have an irregular maturation.
- In capsicums, symptoms include leaf deformities, yellowing and mosaic patterns. The capsicum fruit are deformed, with visible yellowing or brown areas or green stripes. Different plant varieties can present different symptoms.
As of 11th February 2025, NSW and ACT remain free of ToBRFV. The detections are the first time the virus has been confirmed in Australia. To reduce the risk of ToBRFV entering the state, NSW has issued a Control Order - which regulates the movement of risk items, including tomatoes, capsicums and chillies, from infected properties into NSW.
For more information visit: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/insect-pests-and-plant-diseases/tomato-brown
BIOSECURITY ALERT: RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS.
More red imported fire ants have been detected in Wardell, south of Ballina.
An emergency biosecurity order has been put in place in Northern NSW after fire ants were discovered in South Murwillumbah, in December and in Wardell in January 2024.
The emergency order spans a five-kilometre radius from the nest sites and restricts businesses and residents within the radius from moving fire ant carrier materials such as:
- Organic mulch
- compost
- growing media
- manure
- soil and anything with soil on it
- hay
- potted plants
- turf
- agricultural equipment
- earth moving equipment
- mining and quarrying materials
- grass
- park and garden vegetation and clippings.
This order is in addition to the fire ant-specific Emergency Order (in place since August 2023) which applied to movements into NSW from infested areas in Queensland.
Anyone bringing hay, turf, soil, mulch, potted plants or machinery into NSW from Queensland should check the measures that must be implemented before entering NSW.
Communities in the border regions of Northern NSW should be on the lookout for fire ants and their nests and contact NSW DPI if suspected fire ants are found.
Members can find more information on Red Imported Fire including webinars, flyers and links in the member centre here: