Hosta virus X -- what's your experience?

Discussion in 'Garden Pest Management and Identification' started by chuckrkc, Aug 18, 2006.

  1. chuckrkc

    chuckrkc Active Member

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    Location:
    Kansas City, Mo.
    Please tell me how hosta virus X has affected your garden. I have dug up two hostas planted last year that I think were infected -- they had puckered leaves that shouldn't have been seersuckered and discoloration along the veins. One was a Stiletto bought at Lowe's and the other a So Sweet bought elsewhere. Extension agents in Kansas and Missouri (I am on the border of the two states) report the virus is a definite concern here.

    Do you think this disease will wipe out all of our hosta gardens? Have you been affected, and how much?

    I am told the virus is spread mechanically, by tools that tought the sap of the infected plant and brush it on another plant. I sprayed rubbing alcohol on the spade I used to dig up the two.
     
  2. mielle33

    mielle33 Member

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    Location:
    canada
    Do you have any pictures of this problem virus. Also, have you heard of the hosta called spilt milk?? I would love to know where I can get it at. I am in Montreal Canada.

    mielle33
     
  3. chuckrkc

    chuckrkc Active Member

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    Location:
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    Here is a great Web site to see pictures of infected hostas and also see pictures of hosta varieties: www.hostalibrary.org.

    Others can help with a Canadian hosta source, I bet.
     
  4. bcgift52

    bcgift52 Active Member

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    Location:
    BC, Canada
    So far no sign of infection on any of my hosta.

    A Canadian source for Spilt Milk is www.gardensplus.ca (in Peterborough, Ont.).
     
  5. chuckrkc

    chuckrkc Active Member

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    Location:
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    I will share some information I got in an e-mail from Jon Appel, plant pathologist for the Kansas Dept of Ag:

    "This year, we found it in about 1 of 4 locations and probably about
    the same in varieties or cultivars, 1 of 4. We found it in well over 20
    locations which were in the eastern half of the state but I don't think
    western Kansas is immune to it. ... we found it in the major wholesale material coming from such states as Oklahoma, Michigan, California and Oregon. We also found it in
    imported material directly from the Netherlands and also at local producers."

    I am afraid how easily our gardens might become infected, since the disease may not show symptoms immediately. A plant might look ok at the garden center but start showing signs (mine did) weeks or months later.
     

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