V10: A biological against PepMV

V10 is a natural crop protection agent developed by Valto and distributed by Koppert Biological Systems. V10 is used to prevent the emergence of the virulent Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) which has been accountable for substantial losses in tomato production around the world.

V10 is composed of two mild variants of the Pepino mosaic virus (VX1 and VC1) and provides twofold protection against various damaging symptoms of the PepMV EU, PepMV LP and PepMV CH2. V10 also suppresses PepMV US1(CH1) symptoms. The Pepino mosaic virus is very changeable and causes damaging symptoms such as leaf or stem necrosis and fruit discoloration, fruit size reduction and cracking. Transmission is often through plant sap when working with tomato plants and by exposure to infected materials like clothing and tools.

‘You can compare V10 to a flu vaccination.’ explains Valto’s Thorben Looije. ‘V10 is used preventatively and needs to be applied to young plants. There are often two strains present in the greenhouse. V10 covers both so mutation is less likely and plants are protected naturally. This twofold protection is what distinguishes us from our competitors’. Since its introduction this natural crop protection agent has been successfully used by local growers and currently protects a substantial percentage of the total production of tomatoes in the Netherlands.

At this moment V10 has admissions for use in The Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Germany, United Kingdom and France. Registrations in other countries, for example Canada, Spain and Italy, are still ongoing.

‘V10 has proved its worth during the course of several efficiency trials that were needed for the full European registration dossier. The two low risk active ingredients and the product V10 have been approved by the Dutch registration office CTGB,’ says Valto’s director, Thorben Looije.

Based in the Netherlands, the family-owned Valto company produces a specialized range of products to control harmful tomato viruses. Koppert’s extensive distribution network, supply chain, customer services and more than 200 professional consultants ensure that growers around the world have access to this effective solution.

‘For Koppert, this virus vaccination is compatible with our total plant health approach, so it can be easily integrated into our way of working,’ says , sales manager Micro Timo Spruijt. We expect that tomato growers all over Europe will soon accept the ‘Pep’ virus vaccination as a standard practice, at least in high-tech greenhouses, as growers are aware of the yield losses that the PepMV virus can cause.’