Abstract

In 1997 and 2000, surveys were carried out to determine the incidence of Celery mosaic virus (CeMV) in celery crops in south-west Australia. In 1997, CeMV was found on only four of 11 celery farms sampled in the Perth metropolitan region and the incidence of infection was less than 0.1% in individual crops on all but one farm. In contrast, in 2000, CeMV was found on all ten farms sampled in this region and on half of these farms, incidences of infection in individual crops were 43–96%. In 2000, a 3-month 'celery-free period' was instigated by celery growers on five adjoining farms in which the incidence of CeMV-infection had exceeded 80% within individual crops. No CeMV was found on any of these farms during the next 12 months but a trace of infection was present again after 2 years.