Viruses thru pollination?

[escualida]

Hi all, I can't seem to find any info on this. If you were to pollinate a healthy, clean orchid with pollen from one that has a virus, would the virus then spread to the clean one?

[orchidsarefun]

jury seems out - but I do remember reading somewhere that viruses are NOT transferred in seeds in infected orchids. I can't find that article now....when I need it.

From Wiki
Plant virus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Seed and pollen borne viruses

Plant virus transmission from generation to generation occurs in about 20% of plant viruses. When viruses are transmitted by seeds, the seed is infected in the generative cells and the virus is maintained in the germ cells and sometimes, but less often, in the seed coat. When the growth and development of plants is delayed because of situations like unfavourable weather, there is an increase in the amount of virus infections in seeds. There does not seem to be a correlation between the location of the seed on the plant and its chances of being infected. [5] Little is known about the mechanisms involved in the transmission of plant viruses via seeds, although it is known that it is environmentally influenced and that seed transmission occurs because of a direct invasion of the embryo via the ovule or by an indirect route with an attack on the embryo mediated by infected gametes. [5] [6] These processes can occur concurrently or separately depending on the host plant. It is unknown how the virus is able to directly invade and cross the embryo and boundary between the parental and progeny generations in the ovule. [6] Many plants species can be infected through seeds including but not limited to the families Leguminosae, Solanaceae, Compositae, Rosaceae, Curcurbitaceae, Gramineae. [5] Bean common mosaic virus is transmitted through seeds.

[Stray59]

orchidarefun -
Good answer. Good answer!
Steve

[Cym Ladye]

I won't use all the fancy terms but VERY simply put, I have learned from most serious people who flask that most orchid viruses follow this pattern:

If you dry pod, the virus will not be transmitted through the seed. It can be transmitted through the green pod method because of the virus in the internal connective tissue of the pod. I am sure there are always exceptions but as a rule of thumb, this seems to be the working theory regarding progeny.

However, always use the virused plant as a pod parent, not the pollen parent, as infection can occur in the pollination process itself.

[escualida]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

However, always use the virused plant as a pod parent, not the pollen parent, as infection can occur in the pollination process itself.

Thanks for the info guys, I was asking about this specifically, but it's good to know about the dry vs green pod as well.

[orchidsarefun]

some confirming data in this article too


Hybridizing