The detection, distribution, molecular and biological properties, vector relations and control of tospoviruses present in Australia, including Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) and Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV), are reviewed. TSWV occurs throughout Australia where it has caused serious sporadic epidemics since itwas first described in the 1920s. The frequency and distribution of outbreaks has increased in the 1990s, with the arrival and dispersal of the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) being one factor favouring this situation. The crops most frequently and severely affected are capsicum, lettuce, tomato, potato and several species of ornamentals. Minimal differences were found between the nucleocapsid (N) gene amino acid sequences of Australian isolates and these were most closely related to a clade of northern European isolates. CaCV was first detected in Australia in 1999 and is most closely related to Watermelon silver mottle virus, a serogroup IV tospovirus. The natural hosts include capsicum, tomato, peanut and Hoya spp. The virus also occurs in Thailand and Taiwan. IYSV was first found in Australia in 2003, infecting onion and leek, with the distribution in three States suggesting that the virus has been present for some time.

A novel potyvirus is first described from Passiflora foetida from the Indonesian province of Papua, the Torres Strait Islands and Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Infected plants had yellow/green mosaic symptoms, sometimes ringspots and chlorotic spots, and were not infected by other known viruses. The virus was transmitted by Aphis gossypii in a non-persistent manner. Analysis of the core and 3′ regions of the coat protein sequence and the 3′ untranslated region revealed a potyvirus distinct from, but most closely related to, Zucchini yellow mosaic virus and Ceratobium mosaic virus. A reverse transcription PCR with colourimetric microplate detection was developed and the virus was subsequently shown to be widespread in commercial P. edulis hybrids in New South Wales and Queensland. The virus is tentatively named Passiflora virus Y.

Colombian datura virus was identified from the ornamental plant Brugmansia sp., showing leaf mosaic symptoms. The nucleotide sequence of the 3′ untranslated region and the amino acid sequence of the 3′ portion of the coat protein were 100% identical to those from a Hungarian isolate of the virus. This represents the first record of this virus in Australia.