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.