The discovery of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) in cucurbit crops in northern Australia in September 2014 resulted in affected properties being quarantined in order to prevent the spread of the highly transmissible virus.

Recognising the impact of the incursion on cucurbit growers, researchers involved in the Hort Innovation-funded project VG15013 investigated ways to manage the virus through on-farm biosecurity practices as well as improving the speed and accuracy of CGMMV diagnostics.

It was concluded that the primary cause of the incursion was through contaminated seed. However, researchers quickly discovered that the virus was a highly stable particle which could persist in plant material, soil and water, which made it very easy for the disease to spread mechanically between crops.

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