Abstract
Chrysanthemum stunt viroid (CSVd) is reported for the first time in trailing verbena in nursery stock in New Zealand. RT-PCR with published Pospiviroid primers detected CSVd in four of seven vegetatively propagated samples from a commercial nursery but not in seed propagated plants from a national retail chain. The isolate had 99% identity with isolates from overseas. Plants were also infected with a number of viruses which may be masking CSVd’s effect on its host. This finding highlights verbena as a previously unrecognised potential reservoir of CSVd in the country’s nursery and horticulture industries.