Report on Survey of Virus Diseases of Food Crops in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea with Special Reference to Plant Quarentine - Part II

Abstract

This survey was carried out in the course of travels in the Territory for the purpose of reporting on the incidence of bunchy top of Musa spp. in that region (see Part I) and was undertaken at the suggestion of Mr. R. E. P. Dwyer, Director of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries, who was desirous of having the general virus disease position examined, particularly in relation to certain Native food crops, e.g. taro, kaukau (sweet potato), Cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, etc., as a guide to future quarantine action. The survey should be regarded as a cursory one and as being quite incomplete. The impressions were obtained from it, however, that the Territory has so far escaped a number of important virus diseases which are present in other countries and that the adoption of rigid quarantine would be of great value in the future development of agriculture in the Territory.