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RMV... What do you do after?
Henry Kuska wrote:
Cass, concerning your suggestion to publish an article on the subject in the American Rose Annual: I assume that the U. Calif. Davis research is nearing completion. I hope that they would then write such an article as they are the "horse's mouth". Henry, I can appreciate your reluctance to survey the literature when such a report is expected shortly. However, the amount of accurate information in a form readily accesssible to even well-informed rosarians is quite limited. I would view a survey as a precursor to the Davis report, which undoubtedly will include several provisos that "more research is needed." That is the perpetual state of knowledge. Additionally, there is an unsatisfying air of "Don't worry, be happy" surrounding the occurrence of rose mosaic virus. Don't we all wonder if we would need fewer fungicides and in certain parts of the country suffer fewer winter losses if there were fewer virused plants foisted on on the public? I was delighted this spring to see Jackson Perkins offering guaranteed virus free plants....for close to $20 each. I "expect" that they are preparing something for the conference covering virus diseases of ornamental plants which is scheduled for 2004. (Often, researchers try to present their results at conferences such as this one in order to assure that the work gets maximum exposure among those working in the field.) Looking at this list of mosaic viri (see? kits are available) http://www.dsmz.de/plvirus/elisa_o.pdf, it is no surprise that roses suffer from mosaic virus. I've seen common weeds in my yard suddenly show up with mosaic or variagation of the foliage. I suspect that the 1 to 4 % contagion rate is low. My experience with both budded new releases and with old roses is not reassuring, more on the order of 25% than 1 %. That experience has bolstered my interest in collecting and propagating own root, healthy old roses from very old homes. I read your information about mosaic symptoms showing up as early as the 1860's. Whatever its rate of transmission then, it could only increase with modern transportation and production techniques. Apart from different rates of contagion for different virii, it seems obvious that different modes of transmission would have different rates of success. Add that to different susceptibility of cultivars, and the landscape gets complicated quickly. But "Don't worry be happy" seems just simple minded and an abandonment of efforts to improve. Transmission by pruning equipment is the most obvious concern of most home gardeners. Not knowing (a) how easily transmissible the viruses are and (b) how many roses suffer from them without showing symptoms, may make all efforts futile. There is no way of assuring the cleanliness of pruners even after washing, dipping and drying, especially with little more more than strings of protein involved. That doesn't mean I will abandon those efforts. Disposable pruners? No pruning? Not likely. Just my thoughts after reviewing your materials. |
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