THE number of Northern Territory properties impacted by cucumber green mottle mosaic virus has risen to 12 after two additional properties near Katherine returned positive tests for the disease this week.
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The virus was initially detected in a commercial watermelon crop near Katherine in September and 10 properties – including eight in the Katherine region – had been quarantined and slapped with a two-year growing ban before this week’s expansion of the quarantine area.
Last year, impacted growers were forced to burn and bury their crops in a bid to stop the virus spreading to other NT growing areas and across borders.
One of the new properties to return a positive test for CGMMV is within the existing quarantine area, while the second is a direct neighbour.
In January, Israeli CGMMV expert Dr Aviv Dombrovsky visited Katherine to share his expertise with growers and Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries staff, and told the Katherine Times the region was in a “good situation” to eradicate the disease.
Surveillance for CGMMV continues interstate, but there have been no positive detections in crops elsewhere in Australia.
The CGMMV hotline is available for Territory growers and the community on 1800 466 722.
