Western Australian pulse producers are being encouraged to take action now to protect their 2026 crops by taking advantage of the offer of free seed testing for high-risk viruses that can reduce yields, seed quality and profits.
This exclusive offer is provided through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) as part of a joint national project with the Grain Research and Development Corporation.
Up to 40 seed samples from Washington state will be tested free of charge for cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and/or pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) in lupine or lentils. Testing is limited to two 400 gram seed lots per producer.
This national service is also available to growers in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.
DPIRD project leader Ben Congdon said the testing initiative would not only alert growers to the risk of the virus, but the data would support the surveillance element of the research project.
“Testing seed lots for key viruses will give growers a better understanding of the risk of yield loss from seed-borne viruses,” Dr. Condon said.
“This is also a very good way to assess the occurrence and extent of virus contamination across national seed stocks, allowing us to identify future risks to crops affected by these viruses.”
Sowing pulse seeds infected with CMV or PSbMV can result in infected seedlings being randomly scattered within the crop.
Aphids can pick up the virus from infected plants and spread the virus to nearby healthy plants, leading to reduced plant health and yield as well as further virus infection in harvested seeds.
Previous DPIRD trials have shown that viruses such as CMV and PSbMV can cause significant yield losses (>50% in some cases).
Studies have found that PSbMV loss can occur in pea despite no visual symptoms in the crop.
“For seed-borne viruses, the most important management strategy is to sow clean seed, whether commercially produced or seed grown by seed producers themselves, because it is almost impossible to control these viruses once the crop is sown,” Dr. Condon said.
“By measuring the proportion of infected seeds, growers can make informed decisions about seed lots and manage risk.”
In addition to seed lot data, researchers on this project are testing hundreds of crops across the country, and these data will be used to understand the spread, genetic diversity, and potential impact of the virus across different regions, crops, and seasons.
This extensive five-year project also includes research to better understand the impact of different viruses and develop improved management tactics such as insecticide applications and durable host resistance.
“This project will expand our knowledge of cereal crop viruses and ultimately allow us to develop improved strategies to effectively manage them,” Dr Condon said.
GRDC disease manager Alan Little said Australian grain producers faced an invisible virus threat in its early stages, with symptoms often mistaken for other stresses.
“By providing reliable data on virus spread, seed infection and insect movement, this project will provide growers with timely warning signals and actionable control options, allowing them to prevent infections rather than chase them,” Dr Little said.
To submit your lupine, lentil or pea samples to DPIRD and take advantage of the seed testing offer, please email DPIRD Research Scientist Dr. Nazanin Nazeri at nazanin.nazeri@dpird.wa.gov.au to request a seed testing form. Test results will be kept confidential.
For more information on the “Effective Virus Management in Cereal Crops” project, please visit: GRDC website.