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Bees and other insects may transfer CGMMV

Bees and other insects may be able to transfer an infectious plant virus found in melons, research by the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry has found.

A number of issues around the transfer of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV), which was found on more than 20 Territory farms in 2014, are currently being researched by the DPI.

The research aims to help the 25 farms across the Northern Territory, which were placed under quarantine zones from October 2014 until February, to stop the spread of the virus.

Early research has found bees, which through their pollination of plants are vital to growing fruit, could play a role in transferring the virus.

Department of Primary Industry principal molecular scientist Lucy Tran-Nguyen said bees were tested because they played such an important role in cucurbit production.

"We did some bee hive surveillance and collected products that ranged from adult bees, brood, wax, honey — all the products that make up a bee hive," she said.

"[After testing] we found the live virus in bees, honey and pollen."

Read more at ABC Rural
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