The Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV) response team has now completed surveillance of commercial cucurbit crops across the Territory and have not found any signs of the virus outside existing quarantine areas.

Surveillance was conducted on a total of 152 properties and only 10 were found to be infected with CGMMV. The virus has only been found in watermelons and in pumpkins on properties with infected watermelons.

There has not been any new detection of CGMMV since 24 October 2014 and the total number of infected properties remains at ten across the Greater Darwin Rural Area and Katherine region. Quarantine restrictions remain in place at Lambells Lagoon, Marrakai, Edith, Venn and Florina.

The Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries would like to extend their gratitude to all stakeholders affected by and involved in this emergency response. Due to their support, efforts and diligence the potential spread of CGMMV has been halted.

Chief Plant Health Manager, Stephen West said the quick response and cooperation of growers, industry and the department’s emergency response team had helped halt the potential spread of this serious plant pest.

An Area Freedom Certificate was issued on 11 November 2014 for the region south of the Barkly Highway. Continued monitoring confirms the area south of the Barkly Highway remains free from CGMMV.

The Territory is coming to the end of the growing season for cucurbit crops, and therefore surveillance for CGMMV has been completed for this year, but will start again at the beginning of the new growing season in March/April 2015. This will typically run for four – six weeks after the crops have been planted.

“The department will continue to work closely with the affected growers in five quarantine areas to ensure they can work towards their properties being free of this serious virus,” Mr West said.

All states and territories, along with affected industry groups, are working together and have put measures in place to keep the virus contained.

Surveillance for CGMMV has been conducted in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria. To date, there have been no positive samples of crops interstate for the virus.

Seed testing has commenced and to date six seed lines have been identified as infected. Five of these seed lines were small trail lots, with only one being planted out and tracing is being conducted. One commercial line of seed has been identified and tracing is also being conducted.

Positive seed detections do not guarantee field infection. Sown crops will be tested as a part of this tracing effort.

Tracing work to identify the origin of CGMMV in Australia is still underway, but at this stage it remains unclear where the virus originated.

This virus is declared as a notifiable plant pest under the Plant Health Act.  Any suspicion of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus in a crop must be reported to the CGMMV Hotline on 1800 466 722.

For further information please visit the website at www.dpif.nt.gov.au/cgmmv

Media enquiries: Lucy Buhr 0438 455 536