INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ORNAMENTAL PLANTS: PHYTOSANITARY AND PLANT VIRUS QUARANTINE PROBLEMS

International trade in ornamental planting material is increasing, but the risk of introducing viruses (or other pathogens) to new geographical areas or to new crops need not necessarily increase in proportion.

Viruses of ornamentals can be placed in three ecological categories: (i) opportunist viruses with wide host ranges and fairly efficient means of spread.
Many are already world-wide. (ii) Viruses with narrow host ranges and highly efficient means of spread, usually rather localized geographically. (iii) Highly host-specific viruses and virus-like agents, with relatively inefficient means of spread.
Establishment of viruses in new areas or crops is usually prevented by one or more barriers: restrictions of host range; ecological or cultural separation of infected from susceptible crops; absence or localization of the vector.

In general, ornamental plants pose less of a danger than might be feared, but examples are detailed of some potentially serious risks.
The risks are very much greater when large consignments of plants are involved.

V International Symposium on Virus diseases of Ornamental Plants

M. Hollings

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1980.110.17