Orchid Disease Transmission Question

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

That is certainly necessary. Absolutely necessary. A formal list should be created - eg. by AOS etc, and shared with the public. A list that can be updated by database on some schedule.

And that's going to be done how? First, most of those original plants are likely to no longer exist... so to determine that a cultivar, or even a grex, is virused would mean testing all existing examples - a daunting and very expensive task. (In the case of Ctt. Porcia 'Cannizaro', looking at the timing, at that time the ability to test was very new and so exciting) How many clones have been made of each awarded plant? Probably thousands or even tens of thousands. If virused, when did the virus get introduced? Into the original plant...? Or subsequently in which case some are and some aren't? Even if every plant that got awarded (and there are many national and regional organizations that give out flower-quality awards so there would be a huge number of them) taking samples from them would be not only a large and expensive undertaking, but people would have to be willing to let someone take a razor blade to their plant. Don't think it's going to happen...

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

And that's going to be done how? First, most of those original plants are likely to no longer exist... so to determine that a cultivar, or even a grex, is virused would mean testing all existing examples - a daunting and very expensive task.

A list of some sort would be beneficial. How? Pretty much - just 'do'. For example, you gave this particular heads-up about Ctt. Porcia 'Cannizaro' ------ so we got to start somewhere. That would be a good candidate to put into the list (eg. of suspected plants).

[Roberta]

And how would one get off the list with one's plant if someone had one that tested positive and mine is negative? Also, testing is not perfect - one can have both false positives and false negatives. I would not want my plants on a public list. Sort of like a no-fly list?? We know how THOSE are misused and how hard it is to get off one. I think there are more important registries... I'd be inclined personally to see it done with firearms. There are people who would shoot me for that.

It would be easier to require testing of all plants in shows. (Who would pay? Around 5 USD each...A society display could have a few hundred plants in it.) Or even make it part of the award process. I suspect that there would be far fewer plants exhibited. (I wouldn't...especially if I had to pay for it)

For your own plants, just don't make assumptions, test them if you want to know, and don't do things that would spread hidden infections. Always keep in mind that you can't always (or even a majority of the time) identify virus by looking.

[SouthPark]

Roberta - it's not about one plant testing positive while another one tests negative. This is about the situation where you gave heads-up on Ctt. Porcia 'Cannizaro' ------ in that every single one of this particular plant (clone and/or division) is virused.

So - even a list of 'suspected' plants claimed to be virused ------ especially from a very significant statement that all Ctt. Porcia 'Cannizaro' are virused ------ generated/updated periodically and made available to the public would be beneficial - that's for certain.

[SouthPark]

Basically - just a 'heads-up' list - would be excellent, and super helpful for the benefit of orchid growers and orchids.