Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) presents a major biosecurity threat to the Australian industry. The exotic Cotton blue disease (CBD) is also of concern. The industry has invested in preparedness for CLCuD and CBD through project research which commenced in 2008. These projects delivered surveillance of Australian cotton crops, a draft contingency plan for each exotic disease and a surveillance strategy for detection of CLCuD through trapping its whitefly vector.

The 2012 workshop on whitefly transmitted viruses highlighted a need for ongoing investment in this area and a need for improved testing of imported plant material. The detection of Bemisia tabaci Biotype B in northern Australia is a concern given the close proximity with Indonesia. Results indicated Indonesia has many different begomoviruses, although the full diversity is unknown. The diversity of these viruses and satellites in other areas north of Australia is also unknown. The detection of an exotic aphid-transmitted virus of vegetables in Kununurra and Darwin in 2011 demonstrates a potential pathway into northern Australia. A structured surveillance system for exotic cotton viruses both pre- and post-border was the major aim of this project.