Western Australian Blocks Wheat Seed Imports

SYDNEY - Feb 2/06 - SNS -- The stats of Western Australia is effectively banning imports of wheat seed in an effort to prevent the spread of Wheat streak mosaic virus into the state.

The agriculture departments's principal plant virologist Roger Jones said the entry of wheat seed into Western Australia said some seed would be permitted under conditions approved by the Department’s Director General.

Dr Jones said the temporary measures would remain in place pending a detailed pest risk analysis for Wheat streak mosaic virus to determine the risk posed by interstate movement of wheat seed.

Wheat streak mosaic virus causes a disease that reduces the yield of wheat and damages grain quality. Wheat plants infected with it are severely stunted, and show pale streaking and mottling of leaves.

He said the potential economic impact of the virus had increased dramatically with new information confirming the virus was seed borne. In addition, tiny mites – morphologically identical to the virus vector wheat leaf curl mite – were found in 2005 in Western Australia's wheat growing regions.

"Wheat streak mosaic virus has not yet been found in Western Australia, but is established in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland," Dr Jones said. "The emergency measures were deemed necessary after a severe outbreak of the virus in NSW crops in 2005, clear evidence the virus is seed-borne in wheat, and the presence in Western Australia of mites similar to leaf curl mite."