Viral diseases of oilseed rape in Switzerland

In Switzerland, the rape is grown mainly on the Plateau, from Geneva to Thurgovie. With 15 000 ha cultivated, it is one of the predominant crops in our rotation-culture system. The majority is cultivated as autumn rape, sown at the end of August. In some of our neighboring countries, such as Germany and France, viruses responsible for virosis having a high economic impact on this crop have been detected in many rape plots. To investigate on the situation in Switzerland, a survey was realized in spring and autumn 2010 by the virology and entomology groups of the Research Station Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW. This study involves 11 plots dispersed on the Swiss Plateau. The results demonstrated that despite the quasi omnipresence of these «high economic impact» viruses, a really low level of infection was detected.