Hello all: I am seeking a source to communicate with regarding identification of a fungus?? that has infected a wild rose plant situated on one of our local trails. This disease seems extremely virulant and is focussed on the blossom and rose hip. I am getting pictures to pass on today, but I need an address. The intrusive growth appears as a cotton ball of 1 to 2 inch dia. and is soft and pliable to the touch. Based on the evidence of the last growth period, the rose bud and hip appear as though they had been infected with a rose blight and the resuting die off seems restricted to the previous fresh growth (8 to 10") and rose blossom/hip, although I suppose, this might progress further into the shrub. All of the rose blooms on the bush are affected, and the host plant seems stressed from the assault but still alive. Looking forward to hearing from someone interested who can pass on an email address. I am wondering if the plant should be removed and destroyed. Again, this is a wild plant on a well travelled nature path, so migration by human interference is likely. David Adams
Hello David, When you get the photos, you can attach them directly to a reply here. That way everyone who reads this post will be able to see them. The more eyes, the more likely a good ID. Here are the instructions: Attaching Images
Thank you to all who replied to my rose blight question. I have found the identified culpurt. It is a "mossyrose gall wasp" and houses several wasp larvae. Thanks to all David
I have seen that one around before. When you mentioned the "cotton ball", I thought of this, but I did not know what it was called. They are said not to be very harmful to the plants and much more commonly found on wild roses than hybrids.
I think sometimes a mystery solved can spawn a new mystery. The "cotton fibres" in these galls sprout from the wild rose hip and blossom. I wonder what connection there might be between the wild rose species and the wasp species such that the wasp can rewrite the dna or growing instructions to the rose providing a nest for their offspring. Sort of a new twist on symbiosis I think. David
Take a look at this gall! http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/potd/2009/06/salix_species_and_rhabdophaga_rosaria_1.php
That is really amazing. I will probably let it go at this time, but some time in the future I should like to find out how the wasp can redirect the growth pattern in the plant. Even if the plant is altering its growth to protect itself from the wasp larvae, this symbiosis must be a long lived relationship, something the wasp relies on to propogate their species. So did the wasp species find this out accidentally and then take advantage, or can the wasp communicate with plants dna somehow to redirect the growth. Thanks for all your help. David
