Thailand: Insight into small pathogens can help tomato exports

Published May 6, 2021

Tridge summary

A recent study, funded by a grant from Ghent University and ILVO to the Thai government, has led to a significant advancement in the detection and understanding of two highly effective viroids, Columnea Latent Viroid (CLVd) and Pepper Chat Fruit Viroid (PCFVd), which impact the cultivation of several crops in Thailand, including tomato, eggplant, paprika, chili peppers, and bolo maka. Conducted by Thai researcher Parichate Tangkanchanapas, the research has resulted in a method for detecting PCFVd that is up to 100 times more sensitive than existing techniques, and has shown that different CLVd isolates have host-specific sequences, indicating a host-specific relationship. This research not only has implications for the safe export of Thai produce but also provides insights into the biology and interaction of viroids with their host plants, with potential global applications.

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Original content

Two viroids - the Columnea Latent Viroid (CLVd) and the Pepper Chat Fruit Viroid (PCFVd) - which are heavily involved in the Thai cultivation of tomato, eggplant, paprika, chili peppers and bolo maka, are now up to 100 times more effective and easier to detect. This is the result of a special exchange grant between Ghent University and ILVO on the one hand, and the Thai government on the other. Researcher Parichate Tangkanchanapas came with this grant to do a PhD in Belgium. He succeeded in molecular mapping the viroids in detail, predicting their harmfulness and developing a simple method that authorities can use at border controls. The viroids must not be present on export loads of vegetables and seeds from Thailand. Dangerous variant Both viroids have already been intercepted in quarantine procedures in other countries. It turned out that Thai CLVd strains cause more serious symptoms than, for example, the known European variants. Thai researcher Parichate Tangkanchanapas ...

Source: AGF