A plant virus that has brought the Northern Territory melon industry to a standstill doesn't appear to have spread interstate, although the virus has been found in some batches of unplanted seeds.
Queensland recently finished its own assessment of 13 properties linked to the outbreak and found no traces of the virus.
Craig Jennings, from Biosecurity Queensland, said no other Australian states or territories have reported Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus in plant material either.
Most countries around the world have opted not to eradicate the virus, including Israel and Canada. In contrast California, like the NT, is trying to rid itself completely of CGMMV.
Despite the virus being contained to melon crop in the Northern Territory, Biosecurity Queensland says the virus has been found in six lines of unplanted seed.
Mr Jennings said CGMMV has been reported in one commercial variety, and five trial varieties.
"From what I understand, they [the seeds] haven't been from Queensland. They've been from the other states," he said. "They've been from commercial growers who have gone and got their seed lines tested... and it has shown that there has been virus on those seeds at one stage."
Mr Jennings said the isolation of the virus would make it easier to help determine the origins of CGMMV.
Source - www.freshplaza.com
