Abstract

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) was detected for the first time in Australia, infecting onions in three and leeks in one state. Identification was confirmed using sap transmission to Nicotiana benthamiana, two IYSV-specific antisera in ELISA, RT–PCR with IYSV-specific primers, and sequence comparison with published 1IYSV sequences. Spring onion, onion seed and onion bulb crops were all infected, with spring onion being the most severely affected. The virus was also detected in nursery-grown onion and leek seedlings.