Viruses and orchid collections

[zxyqu]

As a scientist with all the right equipment (which would be nearly prohibitively expensive for the average hobbyist), I'd still have to buy the primers (generally cheap), and the right PCR reaction mix (often a little more expensive, even at academic rates). Then I'd have to purchase ethidium bromide (which is tough, though not impossible, to get outside of academia/personal businesses due to its carcinogenic effects), and the agarose to run the gel on. So, even with all the necessary equipment, it's still cost probably 200-300 bucks for all the consumables, and I'd likely have to have a business license to buy the EtBr from Sigma. So, while not impossible for the hobbyist, I struggle to see how such would be even feasible if it wasn't a side business (hint hint to anyone potentially interested).

Camille, I'd love to hear about the antiserum you mentioned, if you have the reference. Never doubt what kind of antibodies you can get when you inject a mouse... Could be an interesting study.

All told I think this thread preaches the pros and cons of viruses in your collection. It's a personal choice, and one I may regret having made in my own space. But I love my hobby, and it is just that for now. These threads will help those in question make informed decisions.

[PlantTeeth]

Since I am getting into orchids, purely as a hobby, I don't see the need to test. Unless I were to get something expensive, I will probably keep all of mine even if one starts declining due to something other than bad husbandry. BUT I will say I would probably remove it from the immediate vicinity of the others, as a precaution.

via mobile

[Leafmite]

Sorry about the virused plants.

[quiltergal]

Jared here is a link I found that talks about PhCSV serum. I saw another one earlier but now I can't find it.

IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THREE NEW PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID-INFECTING VIRUSES

[camille1585]

Yes that's the paper I had found! I thought I'd have to wait until I was at work tomorrow to find it again, since the home proxy access to the university library isn't working right lately... I also think I had found another one.

[SJF]

Originally Posted by escualida

Unfortunately it's not easy to tell anymore which sellers are good about this and which aren't. I bought 7 plants from Pine Ridge thinking they were a "reputable" seller and 6 of them came back positive for both ORSV and CymMV. When I let them know they replied back with indifference and basically told me I was screwed. The plants I bought were expensive and some of them were even ones that they used for breeding, I never expected them to be infected with a virus, let alone with both. From this experience it is clear to me that they don't care about viruses one bit, and now I know. But I couldn't have known that had I not tested.



Unfortunately if the one you choose as the pollen parent is virused and the one you choose as the pod parent is not, you'll likely spread that virus to the uninfected plant. And how would you know unless you get them tested?

If that's still a risk you're willing to take you could try using dry seed instead of green pod when it comes time to flask them, this will make it much more likely that the seedlings will be virus-free. This is what I'm going to have to do with the plants that I mentioned above, I'm actually going to self them as well so that I have backups of the sick ones which will inevitably die.

Hi,
Could you list the names of the phals. from PR that were infected? I would greatly appreciate it.

[escualida]

Sure, the 5 I bought directly from him were:

- Phal Nobby's Purple 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal (Alisun Rainbow x Minho Princess) 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal Eliza Lucas 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal [(Atticus x Krull's Happy Champion) x (Happy King)] 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal (Golden Peoker x Okay Seven) 'Pine Ridge'

and one that I got from someone who was reselling on eBay that is also from Pine Ridge and also had both viruses is:

- Phal. Confetti Burst 'PR'

[SJF]

Originally Posted by escualida

Sure, the 5 I bought directly from him were:

- Phal Nobby's Purple 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal (Alisun Rainbow x Minho Princess) 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal Eliza Lucas 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal [(Atticus x Krull's Happy Champion) x (Happy King)] 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal (Golden Peoker x Okay Seven) 'Pine Ridge'

and one that I got from someone who was reselling on eBay that is also from Pine Ridge and also had both viruses is:

- Phal. Confetti Burst 'PR'

Thank you. I just ordered some phals. from someone who seems to have some Carter and Holmes varieties and some with Pine Ridge in the name. Luckily, it isn't any of those. I was looking for a Sogo Grape "Y&N" that was blooming size and ordered some others at the same time. There prices were on the high side...fingers crossed.

---------- Post added at 03:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 PM ----------

Originally Posted by escualida

Sure, the 5 I bought directly from him were:

- Phal Nobby's Purple 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal (Alisun Rainbow x Minho Princess) 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal Eliza Lucas 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal [(Atticus x Krull's Happy Champion) x (Happy King)] 'Pine Ridge'
- Phal (Golden Peoker x Okay Seven) 'Pine Ridge'

and one that I got from someone who was reselling on eBay that is also from Pine Ridge and also had both viruses is:

- Phal. Confetti Burst 'PR'

Almost forgot, did the credit card company help with the problem?

[plucker]

As I understand it, the apical meristem can be virus free. So it is possible to clone a virused plant, and lose the virus. Not sure if this works for all virus's though. I suppose the risk is accessing this portion without infecting from other parts.

I also thought dry seed propogation was another way of virus prevention.

[NYCorchidman]

I've read the same thing although I do not remember which virus, but it is possible to produce vire free plants from phals that are infected with certain virus.

Deflasking, transplanting and other routine care in the nursery all expose many plants for possible infection though unfortunately.

Speaking of virus, looking at some odd stuff on some of my plants starts to freak me out again.