Re: rose wilt inavsion
> "helene.pizzi" wrote:
>
> Bill Grant has brought up a very important topic for everyone's
> consideration
>
> Invasions of diseases have caused havoc (the beautiful elms are the
> first drama that comes to mind) and we are fortunate that there is a
> good check on importation of plants, seeds, and vegetable matter ion
> general. However, this rose wilt disease which prevents importation
> of roses from NEW ZEALAND, BULGARY, ITALY, AUSTRALIA and SOUTH AFRICA,
> does not seem to exist. Can anyone describe this 'dreaded' thing?
>
> Thinking of all the fantastic McGredy roses ('Sexy Rexy', etc.) -
> from, ahem New Zealand - that we have enjoyed for years, and the new
> imports of Cook's roses from Australia, soon too - somehow - will be
> on the American market, one wonders what this rose wilt is really all
> about...
>
> These roses, and all, growing beautifully in our Mediterranean
> climates all around the world, have - as far as I know, NEVER SHOWN
> ANY SIGNS OF ROSE WILT.
>
> Let's see if any of us is 'in' on rose wilt information.
>
Helen
With some effort I manged to track down an obscure reference in a book
on plant diseases in NZ from the '50s of last century citing a case of
Verticillium dahliae causing wilt disease on a rose. However several
newer disease manuals make no mention of it or any other sort of wilt
whatsoever, so I think it must be either a rare occurrence, or possibly
even a misidentification. Certainly in 40 years of professional
horticulture in this country I have never come across a case as far as I
know. I tend to wonder if it could be a figment of someone's
imagination!
I believe I am correct in thinking this particular fungus is of pretty
general occurrence throughout the world anyway, so even if it does
occasionally attack roses, quarantine is not going to keep it out of
most countries at this point in time. In any case cultivars could surely
be safely distributed as budwood (and apparently have been) without any
fear of spreading a specifically root-destroying fungus.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
