Re: CULT: Virus - was: white 'reversions'



Paul & Yvonne Tyerman wrote:

> Sorry to have taken up everyones time with "Garden Legends", even those
> that to my knowledge are based on fact.
>
> Paul T.

  ==================================
I don't think that anyone should be getting upset here. I believe that both Paul
and Jeff are correct. Some broken colors are caused by virus and some are not.
What is more pertinent I think is that I would be willing to wager the family
fortune that virtually every garden anywhere has virus infected plants in it.
There is no reason to panic about it. Yes they can spread - usually by aphids.
We humans expose ourselves to many sorts of virus, every time we go out in
public. Mostly, we do not get contaminated and when we do we usually feel
miserable for a time and recover from it. A VIRUS IS RARELY A DEATH SENTENCE FOR
PLANTS OR HUMANS. (I wasn't screaming, just giving gentle emphasis).

Some plants are resistant and others (many more) are tolerant of virus. That is,
they will contract a virus but largely shake off it's effects. Some gardeners
will refer to these as typhoid Mary's and rogue them out on the basis of being
carriers. In my opinion these are the very plants we should keep and use in
hybridizing.

There are viruses in your gardens and regardless of what you do there will
always be I think. Try to make your garden an inhospitible site for aphids and
you will minimize the contamination. Incidentally, using a systemic insecticide
for aphids will not work since the aphid has to enter the plant in order to get
killed and in doing so it will deposit the virus if it is carrying it. A strong
spray of water is as good as anything else. And stop going to heroic efforts to
keep wimpy plants alive. One of the best things you can do is a bit of judicious
euthanasia.

Relax and enjoy your plants even though you may have a cold virus!

Cheers
John Montgomery
monashee@junction.net
Vernon  BC  Zone 5
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