An epidemic of cucumber mosaic virus in South Australian lupins

Abstract

Many Lupinus angustifolius crops in South Australia showed a high incidence of severe stunting and leaf epinasty during 1983. The epidemic was attributed to infection with cucumber mosaic virus. The virus was also recovered from Trifolium subterraneum cv. Geraldton, Medicago polymorpha, Vicia faba, Erodium sp. and Arctotheca calendula growing in or adjacent to lupin crops. The experimental host range of the virus included T. subterraneum cv. Clare, T. repens, Pisurn sativum, Vicia faba and Cicer arietinum. A seed transmission rate of 12-15% was demonstrated in field-infected lupins, and it is concluded that the epidemic probably arose through primary introduction of virus into crops in seed, followed by secondary spread by aphids. The possible role of alternative host species as a reservoir is discussed.