VANILLA VIRUSES IN THE SOUTH-PACIFIC

Surveys for viruses affecting Vanilla fragrans and V. tahitensis carried out in Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Tonga and Vanuatu detected cymbidium mosaic potexvirus and odontoglossum ringspot tobamovirus in all countries; vanilla necrosis potyvirus in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu; and vanilla mosaic potyvirus in Cook Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu. For all these viruses the surveys extended the previously known distribution in the South Pacific. Other, unreported potyviruses and rhabdovirus-like particles were detected from Fiji and Vanuatu. Symptoms associated with potyvirus infection (leaf distortion, sunken chlorotic patches, stem necrosis and vine die-back) were found in a majority of plantings in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu; in Fiji and Tonga there were instances where up to 50% of the plants in farmers' plots were affected.