Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV) is a serious exotic plant disease that affects cucurbits – including watermelon, cucumbers, melons, zucchini, pumpkin, squash, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, and paddy melons. It is a notifiable disease under the Plant Health Act 2008. It was detected in the Northern Territory 2014, Queensland in 2015 and Western Australia in 2016.
Currently, it is possible to trade cucurbit fruit across Australia, but only if a Farm Biosecurity Plan is in practice. But there are restrictions for cucurbit plants, seeds, soil, machinery and beehives due to the risk of trading infected plants with CGMMV.
Michael is a Northern Territory cucumber grower whose strong Farm Biosecurity practices meant the virus did not reach his farm. He was able to keep trading throughout the emergency.
In seedlings can be easily confused with other cucurbit viruses. In severe cases, young leaves may turn yellow, though signs might not be obvious until mature leaves develop.
Young leaves may show vein clearing and crumpling, mature leaves may show mottling, mosaic patterns, or appear pale, yellow, or yellow-white.
In fruit, symptoms may not be visible from the outside, but the inside could become badly spotted or streaked, especially in high temperatures.
CGMMV spreads easily through soil, plant material, and infected seeds. For example, spreading mulch that has been created
from infected plant material can infect live cucurbit plants. CGGMV can survive for a long period of time on old plants. CGMMV also readily spreads by infecting cucurbit weeds such as paddymelons.
Recommended biosecurity practices to prevent the spread of CGMMV include:
Restrict farm visitor access;
Recommended practices in dealing with suspected infected plants include:
All across Australia, it has been agreed that it is not feasible to eradicate CGMMV, and current management by the CGMMV National Management Plan helps prevent the spread and reduce the impact on effected regions and minimise trade impacts.
Farms detected with this virus needed to destroy their infected crops to stop the spread. Farms were quarantine and some unable to trade. The governments of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and Queensland introduced quarantine measures to control its spread and protect farms. Good biosecurity practices, early detection and reporting will help stop the spread.
NT Farmers acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging. This website is made possible thanks to the NT Government's Community Benefit Fund
