Virus diseases in canola and mustard

Summary

Virus diseases in canola (Brassica napus) were found in recent seasons in production areas across Australia. Beet western yellow virus (BWYV) was first identified in eastern and Western Australia in the early 1980s. At that time it infected canola and a wide range of other plants in Tasmania. Since 1998 it has become very common outside of Tasmania in canola, mustard (Brassica juncea) and pulse crops, often at high infection levels. Two viruses, Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) and Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), have also been detected in canola in eastern and Western Australia and mustard in NSW. Relatively little information on CaMV and TuMV is available, but in Western Australia they are much less common in canola than BWYV. Viruses other than BWYV, TuMV, and CaMV may also occur as tests have been limited to these three species.

This Agnote includes information on:

• distribution of virus infections
• virus species and their transmission
• symptoms
• incidence
• spread
• aphid identification
• control measures
• current research