A plant nursery had sold seeds and seedlings that could be contaminated with a parasitic vine.

Aberfeldy Nurseries said it had sold 44 packets of imported seeds, which may contain the dodder parasite, and six customers had been accounted for.

Julie Greaves, the general manager of the Paget nursery, said basil seedlings and packets of Burpee Mammoth basil seed bought since March 2 were affected.

Ms Greaves added: “Crop yields can be reduced as the parasites rob the host plants of nutrients. The dodder plant can be spread both by seed and stem fragments.

“Customers who suspect their plants may be infested with dodder are advised not to disturb or dig them up, but to contact the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for further instructions on the procedures entailed in the recall.

“We apologise for any inconvenience to our customers. Aberfeldy is committed to resolving this unfortunate incident.”

Dodder is a leafless plant that twines itself around host plants and steals nutrition from them.

They are part of the morning glory family and have slender, yellow-orange stems, which grow into dense mats that shade out other plants.

The Government released a warning about vine dodder on August 6 after a former Department of Environment and Natural Resources employee was given a basil plant.

But the plant was accompanied by a live dodder plant — native to North America and Canada, but widespread throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world.

Terry Lynn Thompson, acting director of the DENR, said: “We urge all customers who have purchased herb plants, in particular basil from Aberfeldy Nurseries, to check for the presence of dodder, and to contact the Plant Protection Laboratory if you suspect it is present.

“Likewise, all customers who have purchased mammoth Italian basil seed packets are asked to contact the Plant Protection Laboratory for further instructions.

“And because this infestation may not be limited to the plants and seeds sold by Aberfeldy, members of the public and local plant nurseries should continue to check all their plants for dodder, and should not plant any basil seed, particularly from Burpee brand mammoth Italian basil seed packets.”

A Department spokesman said dodder is “one of the most economically detrimental groups of parasitic plants worldwide, with infestations resulting in major crop losses. Eradication efforts could be costly”.

He added: “If you see a plant you suspect may be infested with dodder, report it immediately to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Do not move the plant, as stem fragments or seeds may spread. DENR technical officers will visit the site and safely remove any dodder.”

• Julie Greaves can be contacted on 236-2927 or by e-mail at info@aberferldy.bm. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources can be contacted at 239-2322 or by e-mail at plants@gov.bm

• UPDATE: This story was amended to add comments from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources