Potato seeds stored in Victoria have tested positive for the potato mop-top virus, an exotic plant disease. The Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority (AusSPICA) reported that the seeds originated from Tasmania, where an outbreak of the virus has been ongoing. The mop-top virus can lead to decreased potato yield and quality, causing discoloration in the plants, but it poses no harm to humans.

AusSPICA General Manager and potato pathologist Nigel Crump confirmed that this is the first detection of the virus in Victoria. "This seed had moved across prior to [when] the official restrictions were in place," Dr. Crump stated. He added that the infected seeds had not been planted in Victoria and noted that he was unaware of the virus being present in the soil outside Tasmania. "We have not had a detection of mop-top in any of the seed growing on the mainland in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales that I'm involved with," he said.

In response to the outbreak, new restrictions on importing seeds from Tasmania to South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales were implemented in early September. This included a complete ban on seed potatoes from Tasmania entering Victoria. Authorities in Victoria have declared the virus to be impossible to eradicate, with nine properties currently affected.

Dr. Crump anticipates that the infected seeds found in Victoria will be destroyed. He also mentioned the need to address reimbursement costs for growers to ensure they can dispose of the seeds without incurring expenses. "We've also got to work out owner reimbursement costs with this situation to make sure the growers can dispose of the seed and not have any costs incurred with that," he said.

Given the recent detection, Dr. Crump has advised growers against planting any seeds from Tasmania. "We're lucky that we got on to this testing and got that detected before growers planted the seed," he noted. "We're making the decision to advise all members not to plant any seed from Tasmania at this stage until we get a clear understanding of what the actual risks are."

Katherine Myers, a seed potato grower from Tourello near Ballarat, expressed her frustration over the situation. She stated that the positive detection was not surprising but was still "incredibly frustrating." Myers, who serves as the vice president of the Victorian Farmers Federation's horticulture group, criticized Tasmania for not imposing similar trade barriers on its own products.

She urged the state government to enhance support for potato growers, suggesting, "Put the next level of emergency security restrictions in place whereby farmers who have seeds in the state already are able to be reimbursed for the cost of bringing that seed over."

The Victorian government and the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action have been approached for comments regarding the situation.