Orchids in cultivation are susceptible to several viruses such as:
Cymbidium mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, and bean yellow mosaic virus.

While the symptoms of viral infection can be easily confused with symptoms resembling bacterial and fungal diseases, there are some telltale signs.

Orchid plants with yellow to black streaks on the leaves and pseudobulbs as well as color breaks in the flowers are suspect of possible viral infection, which can be confirmed by virus testing at a laboratory.

Viruses can be controlled by prevention - isolation of infected plants and scrupulous sterilization of tools used on orchids when dividing, repotting, etc.  Pots should be sterilized before reuse.

Eradicate aphids as soon as possible since they are known vectors for viruses.

Recent scientific discoveries have shown that extracts from green pepper (bell pepper) plant leaves contain compounds that arrest mosaic viruses in orchids.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 26th, 2008 at 8:22 am and is filed under What's Bugging Your Orchid. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.