Current situation
- CGMMV has been confirmed on a second property in the Geraldton area in a commercial cucumber crop. The property is close to where the disease was first detected in a continental cucumber crop in July 2016.
- The sample was submitted to DAFWA’s plant pathology diagnostic service by a local agronomist.
- The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) will commence a survey of all commercial cucurbit growing properties in the Geraldton region, with assistance from vegetablesWA, to determine distribution of the virus. This will include the collection of cucurbit leaf samples. This is planned to take place during the week of 8 August 2016 (next week).
- DAFWA will work with Geraldton growers on biosecurity plans.
- DAFWA officers are also meeting with Perth, Kununurra and Carnarvon cucurbit growers to provide further information.
- DAFWA will meet regularly with representatives from vegetablesWA, AUSVEG and growers to discuss current issues and proposed actions. The first meeting was held on 3 August 2016.
- An outcome from the 3 August 2016 meeting was to look at the Northern Territory’s CGMMV management plan to see what elements can be brought into use in WA.
- A translated version of this update will be made available ASAP.
- DAFWA hosted a workshop on 27 July 2016 in Geraldton, with support from vegetablesWA, involving local cucurbit growers and industry stakeholders. The workshop focused on technical advice, disease management and appropriate on-farm biosecurity measures required to minimise spread of the virus.
Next steps
- Given the second detection, it is critical that growers implement and maintain on-farm biosecurity measures to prevent further spread of CGMMV, and other pests and diseases.
- Attached for reference is the CGMMV farm biosecurity information sheet forwarded to growers last week. Also refer to the Plant Health Australia website for a useful information sheet on field day biosecurity.
- Additionally, the farmbiosecurity.com.au website has information on how to put in place biosecurity measures that are appropriate for your farm.
- Report suspect CGMMV cases to the Pest and Disease Information Service on 1800 084 881.
- Cucurbit samples showing signs of the disease can be tested for presence of the virus at DAFWA’s Diagnostic Laboratory Service (DDLS) located at South Perth. DDLS can be contacted on (08) 9368 3351.
- Clients submitting samples should use the submission forms available on https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/bacteria/plant-disease-diagnostics.
- Cucurbit growers should seek a written statement from their seed suppliers stating that the seeds have been tested, using the ELISA method, and found to be free from the virus. This assurance should be obtained for both cultivars and rootstocks.
- More CGMMV information and current updates are available from DAFWA’s CGMMV web page.
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