Virus - P. equestris?

[The Mutant]

I'm starting to get a bit worried about one of my baby P. equestris - the second to bloom of the two in spike I have.

The first flower to open was misshapen and had some strange colouration. It also won't open and stretch/flatten out as a typical P. equestris flower is supposed to do (and as the flowers on the mother plant do). The second flower started open this morning, and still hasn't opened properly, but as far as I can tell, it is also misshapen and has the same streaks as the first one, even on the lip. If I compare this with my other premier bloomer, that one's flowers don't have these streaks, or misshapen lips/petals/sepals, but then they're not the same clones...

The rest of the plant looks perfectly fine with healthy green leaves, a new root and new growth on the old ones, as well as a new leaf growing. The rest of the buds, however, all look a bit off, shape-wise, so I think the flowers will continue looking strange.

So, should I worry? Could it be virus or is it just the fact that it's a first-time bloomer that can have this effect on the flowers? I've isolated it as a precaution, but I don't know what good it'll do considering it has rubbed leaves with its Phal pals for six weeks already.

Ah, yes, almost forgot; I re-potted it recently since there was a bit of an algae infestation going on in the pot, I don't know if the re-potting could've caused this to happen to its flowers (doubt it though).

Here you have two pics of the first flower, I'll upload some pictures of the rest of the plant and the second flower tomorrow when I can take some pics of it:





Here you have a link to what the mother plant's flowers look like: Mommy equestris

[Leafmite]

A test is best but I separated the cattleya that's blooms were not quite right. The next blooming will hopefully be normal. Here is the best virus site I have found during my desperate searches: http://www.icogo.org/images/Dr._Chin...id_Viruses.pdf

Good luck!

[The Mutant]

Thanks Leafmite! I'll have to check the leaves tomorrow in daylight to see if I can see any yellow streaks.

I really hope it isn't any virus, but I'll keep it isolated for now.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It is best to get it tested.

However...

I really don't see any real issues with the flower - I could be wrong. As far as I see from the photos, it's just a case of variable expression.

But as mentioned, it's better to be safe and get it tested.

[The Mutant]

Yeah, thanks Philip. It feels much better after hearing/reading you say/write that.

So, anybody knows of where one can get it tested in Europe?

[The Mutant]

I've upped some pictures of the plant, the first and the second flower.

[camille1585]

I gave up getting test strips in Europe. I contacted Agdia, and they sent me left and right, and in the end no one replied to my questions about where/how to order. I think that I will buy the antibodies myself if I can find them, and do the Elisa test at work. I've done it a few times before, and our labs have the equipment for it.

Personally I think that it is not virus. The streaking on the petals is symmetrical and very nearly indentical. Virus streaking tends to be a bit more random than that. As for the lip, I have had an equestris make a few freak blooms like that in a past blooming.

As for virus transmission, assuming it was infected, rubbing leaves will not tranfer it unless 2 wounds were rubbing. Transmission is done by using unsterilized tools, sharing bath water, and insects (mealies, thrips, aphids...)

[The Mutant]

Thanks Camille!

They have, unfortunately, shared bath water...

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it isn't any virus but whacky first blooms. I'll still keep it isolated though, just the be on the safe side.

[camille1585]

Hmm, the EU Agdia suppliers seem to have improved their website. I'll have to contact them to see how to go about ordering, and what the prices are.
Agdia Biofords - Flashkits® and ELISA detection kits
Their catalogue for virus tests

[The Mutant]

Thank you so very much! I'll see if I can order test strips too. There's nothing more disconcerting than not knowing after all.