In recent years, the emergence of new plant viruses has posed increasing challenges to agricultural production and international trade. Among these, tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) has gained attention due to its rapid spread, potential for severe crop damage and its likely seed-borne nature. The lack of harmonised and validated diagnostic tools for ToMMV has created uncertainty for regulatory authorities, seed producers and diagnostic laboratories, making it difficult to ensure early detection and consistent phytosanitary measures.

The project 2022-A-394 ‘Validation of molecular diagnostic methods for the detection and identification of tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV-detect)’ was initiated in response to a clear policy need: to support plant health authorities and stakeholders with reliable, comparable and internationally accepted diagnostic methods for ToMMV. The practical problem was the existence of multiple molecular tests for ToMMV, but without coordinated validation or performance comparison across laboratories. This gap hindered effective surveillance, seed testing and outbreak response.

Through international collaboration, the project brought together a wide network of laboratories to jointly evaluate the performance of available molecular tests. The approach enabled the generation of robust data on test reliability, reproducibility and diagnostic value under real-world conditions. The project also fostered knowledge exchange and alignment of diagnostic practices across countries.
As a result, the project delivered a clearer understanding of which tests are most suitable for routine use and laid the groundwork for harmonised diagnostic protocols. These outcomes contribute directly to improved plant health preparedness, support evidence-based regulation and strengthen the capacity of diagnostic networks to respond to emerging threats like ToMMV.