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  5. Identify priority plant pests and diseases
  6. Tobamoviruses

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

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Tobamoviruses (exotic strains)

PLANT PEST

Two green cucumbers and three green leaves with dark and light patches on a grey background.
A key symptom of tobamoviruses is mottling of leaves and fruit, here in cucumber.
Gerald Holmes, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org

Tobamoviruses (exotic strains)

Exotic to Australia

Exotic to Australia: One key virus, cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), is under management in some areas of Australia.

Features: A group of viral diseases that cause mottling and damage to important vegetable, fruit, field and ornamental plants.

Where it’s from: Asia, Nigeria, North America, Brazil, and Europe.

How they spread: Importation of infected plants and plant material including seeds; local spread through plant to plant contact; pruning, harvesting, contaminated equipment and clothing.

At risk: Many vegetable crops including melons, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, and capsicum.

Report it

Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer, Dr Gabrielle Vivian-Smith, provides an overview of the risks posed by seed viruses, including Tobamoviruses

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Keep it out

Tobamoviruses threaten many of Australia’s vegetable, fruit and field crops.

Tobamoviruses are highly infectious. Their primary method of spread is through the trade of infected seed around the world. The virus can survive for long periods in plant material, contaminated soil and on equipment surfaces. Therefore, tobamoviruses spread easily through direct plant to plant contact, contaminated tools, hands, clothing and by pollinators like bees visiting flowers.

Plants infected with tobamoviruses have mosaic-like mottling and discolouration on the leaves and fruit. These viruses don’t affect human health, but they cause a great deal of damage to infected plants through the reduction of both plant health and production of fruit and vegetables. Many plant species can be infected with the viruses, including many important vegetable, fruit and field crops.

One of the key tobamoviruses, cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, affects cucurbits – pumpkins, melons and related fruit and vegetables. Infected plants produce little fruit and, since there is no cure, they must be destroyed. It now occurs on all continents except South America.

In addition to cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, tobamoviruses include tomato mottle mosaic virus, zucchini green mottle mosaic virus, cucumber mottle virus and tobacco mosaic virus – potato strain.

Importing goods

To keep exotic strains of tobamoviruses out of Australia, never ignore Australia’s strict biosecurity rules.

Import shipments may need to be treated and certified, so before you import, check our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

What to look for

Symptoms vary depending on the plant, but look out for:

  • mosaic-like mottling and discoloration on the leaves
  • distorted leaves
  • absence of fruit or distorted fruit.
Six green and orange pumpkins with spots and raised areas.
Tobamoviruses distort and mottle fruit.
Gerald Holmes, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org
Curled green plant stems and leaves on a green background.
The viruses also cause distorted leaves.
Gerald Holmes, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org

 

Where to look

Importers

Importation of infected seed, plants and plant material is the most likely way that tobamoviruses could make it to Australia.

Growers and home gardeners

Look out for signs of tobamovirus infection in your garden and among your melon and vegetable crops including mottling of leaves and fruit. The virus can only be identified in a laboratory.

The viruses can infect some weed species including prostrate pigweed and creeping cucumber, so good farm hygiene is recommended for growers.

Look for symptoms in:

  • vegetables in the pumpkin and melon family
  • tomato
  • potato
  • chilli
  • capsicum
  • field crops including tobacco and wheat.

Secure any suspect specimens

If you think you’ve found a plant infected with tobamovirus:

  • take a photo
  • collect a sample
  • do not disturb the infected plants (this may be as simple as closing the doors on a shipping container or preventing access to a field).

Report it

Seen something unusual? Report it. Even if you’re not sure.

Report it without delay

Read the detail

  • Queensland Government: Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus
  • Queensland Government: tobamoviruses
  • Plant Health Australia: Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV )

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Page last updated: 03 April 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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