Is this orchid just infected with a virus?

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by The Mutant

Well, it looks a lot like my Phal. Formosa Rose (points at picture). I also thought mine was virused, but was told that the "splash gene" in this particular hybrid, is very unstable and can lead to weird looking flowers like this.

I can't afford to test mine, so just to be on the safe side (just in case), I treat it with care and don't let it mix with the others. It seems healthy so far (I've had it for almost 1½ years) and loves to flower. As a matter of fact, it's working on its third spike since I got it home.

I'm with you. It look like it was deliberately bred this way.

[Leafmite]

Well, there you go. The explanation that Mutant has given makes quite a bit of sense.

[RJSquirrel]

Phalaenopsis plants bearing virus-like symptoms of chlorotic ringspots and chlorotic spots with centric necrosis have been observed in Taiwan for more than a decade. The causal agent has been described as the “Taiwan virus” since these symptoms were frequently observed in orchids from Taiwan. Recently, we identified and characterized the “Taiwan virus” as an isolate of Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV-Ph), which reportedly infects capsicum and tomato plants in Australia and Thailand, respectively. Another symptom, chlorotic spots on Phalaenopsis leaves, was found to be caused by a virus with long filamentous particles. This virus reacted with a commercialized potyvirus-specific monoclonal antibody and was confirmed to be a new potyvirus based on the results of molecular characterization. Thus, the orchid-infecting potyvirus was designated as Phalaenopsis chlorotic spot virus (PhCSV). The third viral disease of Phalaenopsis orchids exhibited symptoms of chlorotic rings from which isometric particles were observed. The genomic sequence of this orchid virus revealed that it is an isolate of Carnation mottle virus (CarMV) and was designated as CarMV-Ph. Furthermore, Phalaenopsis plants with white flowers bearing symptoms of flower crinkle have been observed in Taiwan, China and Japan since 2006. Crinkled Phalaenopsis flowers generally suffered shorter flower longevity. In Japan, the symptom of flower crinkle is called “Hanafuke”, meaning flower senescence. Our results demonstrate that ORSV was the sole causal virus of flower crinkle in Phalaenopsis orchids. The specific antisera against these four viruses and the specific primers of RT-PCR have been developed and used successfully for detecting these viruses. The occurrence of these viruses in Phaelenopsis orchids has direct implications for the economically important nursery and floral industry worldwide.

In short ,They used a commercialized potyvirus-specific monoclonal antibody that created a new virus. they tried to make them virus free and it didnt work. Thus, the orchid-infecting potyvirus was designated as Phalaenopsis chlorotic spot virus (PhCSV)."Taiwan Virus"

Virus is not something that you want in your collection but Im afraid that most of us have virused plants in them and we dont know it. If we do know it we can keep them separated and enjoy them anyway. Virus can lie dormant and only be detectable thru test or time. Its better to be safe than sorry if you have a suspect plant.

Ill be quiet about the virus . I dont want to be singly responsible for a creating a psuedo epidemic of hypochondrial orchid lovers thinking they all got virus.

OOO its too late

[lauraeli]

It is very pretty. It doesnt look sick.

Viruses are spread through wounds. Obviously cutting parts of the orchid and using the same scissors/knife on another plant. Also via insects like aphids and thrips.

Unless you have a serious insect problem, I dont see the harm in keeping it, in another room.

Edited to add a pic I found of 'Happy King' which reminds me of yours. Also the second one, listed as Dtps. (King Shiang Rose X Happy Valentine) X Dtps. Taisuco Firebird

Last one is yours, just because I wanted to see it side-by-side for comparison :-P

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

Phalaenopsis plants bearing virus-like symptoms of chlorotic ringspots and chlorotic spots with centric necrosis have been observed in Taiwan for more than a decade. The causal agent has been described as the “Taiwan virus” since these symptoms were frequently observed in orchids from Taiwan. Recently, we identified and characterized the “Taiwan virus” as an isolate of Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV-Ph), which reportedly infects capsicum and tomato plants in Australia and Thailand, respectively. Another symptom, chlorotic spots on Phalaenopsis leaves, was found to be caused by a virus with long filamentous particles. This virus reacted with a commercialized potyvirus-specific monoclonal antibody and was confirmed to be a new potyvirus based on the results of molecular characterization. Thus, the orchid-infecting potyvirus was designated as Phalaenopsis chlorotic spot virus (PhCSV). The third viral disease of Phalaenopsis orchids exhibited symptoms of chlorotic rings from which isometric particles were observed. The genomic sequence of this orchid virus revealed that it is an isolate of Carnation mottle virus (CarMV) and was designated as CarMV-Ph. Furthermore, Phalaenopsis plants with white flowers bearing symptoms of flower crinkle have been observed in Taiwan, China and Japan since 2006. Crinkled Phalaenopsis flowers generally suffered shorter flower longevity. In Japan, the symptom of flower crinkle is called “Hanafuke”, meaning flower senescence. Our results demonstrate that ORSV was the sole causal virus of flower crinkle in Phalaenopsis orchids. The specific antisera against these four viruses and the specific primers of RT-PCR have been developed and used successfully for detecting these viruses. The occurrence of these viruses in Phaelenopsis orchids has direct implications for the economically important nursery and floral industry worldwide.

In short ,They used a commercialized potyvirus-specific monoclonal antibody that created a new virus. they tried to make them virus free and it didnt work. Thus, the orchid-infecting potyvirus was designated as Phalaenopsis chlorotic spot virus (PhCSV)."Taiwan Virus"

Virus is not something that you want in your collection but Im afraid that most of us have virused plants in them and we dont know it. If we do know it we can keep them separated and enjoy them anyway. Virus can lie dormant and only be detectable thru test or time. Its better to be safe than sorry if you have a suspect plant.

Ill be quiet about the virus . I dont want to be singly responsible for a creating a psuedo epidemic of hypochondrial orchid lovers thinking they all got virus.

OOO its too late

I don't think this answers my question at all.
The first paragraph explains how a few different viruses that infect other plants also infect phalaeanopsis.

I don't see how the first and second paragraphs are related. Also, I'm not clear on what is being said at all actually. not the terminology. I have a degree in Cell Biology and have no problem understanding scholarly papers.

And who do you refer to when you say "they" and "we"??
just curious.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I am sort of surprised that the original poster (Zyzzyzus) has not come back to this thread & commented.

I think a very important question is, what is the ID on this plant, if it has an ID tag? A hybrid name may allow comparison to others of the same grex, or an evaluation of the parentage to see if splash petals are in the heritage.

If it is supposed to be a solid magenta, then yes, this could be a virus.

Zyzzyzus, are you out there? Please reply - does this plant have an ID tag, if yes, what is on the tag? Thanks.

[lepetitmartien]

I don't see the original flower of the thread to be way more suspicious than all the flowers of the same type I can see in trade. They are all forbidden at home but it's a personal choice. But here it looks more some unstability in repartition than a strike/break of ORSV origin.

[Dub3]

Originally Posted by The Mutant

Well, it looks a lot like my Phal. Formosa Rose (points at picture). I also thought mine was virused, but was told that the "splash gene" in this particular hybrid, is very unstable and can lead to weird looking flowers like this.

I can't afford to test mine, so just to be on the safe side (just in case), I treat it with care and don't let it mix with the others. It seems healthy so far (I've had it for almost 1½ years) and loves to flower. As a matter of fact, it's working on its third spike since I got it home.

I just finished having 10 of my plants tested by Critter Creek Labs and the total cost is only $5.00 each for 1-9, $4.50 each for 10 or more. results are back within 10-12 days. You just cut a leaf sample 1-2 inchs long put in freezer bag and mail to them. They do all the work. Be sure to use new single edge blade for each cut. Of the 10 samples I sent in 4 were infected.

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by Dub3

I just finished having 10 of my plants tested by Critter Creek Labs and the total cost is only $5.00 each for 1-9, $4.50 each for 10 or more. results are back within 10-12 days. You just cut a leaf sample 1-2 inchs long put in freezer bag and mail to them. They do all the work. Be sure to use new single edge blade for each cut. Of the 10 samples I sent in 4 were infected.

Would be quite expensive to send in samples to Critter Creek Labs since I live in Sweden.

I've contacted Agdia's European distributor, however. Thinking about getting some virus test kits. They're very expensive, but it might be worth saving myself from future headaches

The Phal. Formosa Rose is no more by the way. It started develop some veeeeeery suspicious looking spots on its newest leaf, so into the garbage it went. I would in other words like to retract my previous statement and recommend the OP to toss the suspicious looking Phal...

[Dub3]

Mutant,
Sorry about that I'm not accustom to addressing a international audience.