Abstract
Societal Impact StatementOrchid viruses are capable of causing flower deformities and death, which can severely impact the horticultural industry and wild orchid conservation. Here we show how two of these quickly evolving viruses display few genetic differences since their first emergence, across countries and host plants. This is concerning as, despite biosecurity regulations to control the movement of orchids and their related pathogens, these patterns are suggestive of rapid and regular international movement of horticultural material. Poor biosecurity practices could threaten the orchid horticultural industry and result in the accidental translocation or reintroduction of infected plant material intended to recover wild populations.
Highlights
With an estimated 28,484 species (WCSP, 2017), orchids are among the most speciose families of flowering plants (Joppa, Roberts, Myers, & Pimm, 2011)
Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV) is a member of the potexvirus family with a single‐ stranded RNA positive sense genome of approximately 6.3 kb (Wong et al, 1997)
Due to the threat from trade, all orchids were placed on Appendix II, or higher, from the inception of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (Koopowitz, 2001; Roberts & Solow, 2008), and currently comprises over 70% of species listed on CITES (Hinsley et al, 2017)
Summary
Societal Impact Statement Orchid viruses are capable of causing flower deformities and death, which can se‐ verely impact the horticultural industry and wild orchid conservation. We show how two of these quickly evolving viruses display few genetic differences since their first emergence, across countries and host plants. This is concerning as, despite bios‐ ecurity regulations to control the movement of orchids and their related pathogens, these patterns are suggestive of rapid and regular international movement of horti‐ cultural material. Poor biosecurity practices could threaten the orchid horticultural industry and result in the accidental translocation or reintroduction of infected plant material intended to recover wild populations. KEYWORDS Cymbidium mosaic virus, CymMV, horticulture, Odontoglossum ringspot virus, Orchidaceae, ORSV, phytosanitary, trade
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