Plant symptoms and virus test results

[euplusia]

Actually I tested some of my plants with the agdia immunostrip test for Cymbidium Mosaic Virus ( CymMV ) and Odontoglossum Ringspot Virus ( ORSV, also called Tobacco Mosaic Virus -orchid strain). I will report the symptoms and results as visual aids.
C. Elizabeth Mahon : Hesitant growth, prone to black rot. Necrotic spots and streaks on bulbs and leafs. White flowers without visible symptoms. Tested positive for CymMV.
Jewel Box: Good grower, flowering several times a year. Leaves and bulbs inconspicuous. Flowers at times with missing sepals or petals, but no deformity or colour break. Tested positive for CymMV.
C. Blue Bells: Old leaves with heavy necrotic spots, but not progressive. New leaves healthy, normal growth, inconspicuous flowers. Virus test negative.
Brassada: Miserable since 4 years, no increment, no flowers. Necrotic streaks and spots on bulbs and leaves. Tested positive for ORSV.
Laelia autumnalis: Inconspicuous leaves and growth. Only one out of several plants had a colour break on sepals in the last flowering season. This plant was tested positive for ORSV and negative for CymMV. This amazed me as the vast majority of symptomatic plants in the Cattleya alliance in my greenhouse was infected with CymMV.

[euplusia]

Here the photos for L. autumnalis

[RJSquirrel]

I'm always hoping most of us are wrong when the virus buttons get hit here...and some of those plants dont look really too bad to be infected but with all the conditions you described they were suspects..

And this is why they say you have to test them. Some are obvious others sneak into your collection and infect everything.

I tested about 25 plants a few years back when I was convinced it wasnt me trashing the plants out. In fact it was me. I had no virus on anything just bad habits in handling them. I really WANTED a virus to blame it on..Nooo nooo nooo couldnt be so easy

[silken]

Thanks for the info. I have tested some of mine a few years back and my suspicions were correct with some, but others tested negative for those two viruses. Of course they could have some other virus, but these two seem to be the worst in the orchid world.

I have been tempted to get some more test kits but the price in Canada went up significantly from 2 years ago.

[NYCorchidman]

That Jewel Box is a classic case of "Typhoid Mary".
How scary! Grows and blooms well and looks well, but sick! lol

All others look quite bad, especially Brassia.
Why did you keep it for so long since it never grew well and flowered in the last 4 years, and it looks horrible to begin with? lol
Too merciful I guess? I would have thrown that out long ago without any hesitation.

[wintergirl]

Thank you for sharing the pictures of your plants and the results, very educational.

[My Green Pets]

That Laelia could have fooled me. The plant looks fine...