Re: seeds from fruit with mosaic virus

In a message dated 11/27/99 8:04:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, res@colfax.com 
writes:

> Barb and Steve,  From what I understand there is little danger of passin it
>  on thru the seeds.  I also think that the residual in the soil is not as

That's what was concluded months ago when I was talking about this with 
Harold and several others.

>  much a problem as standing weeds and plants in the local area.  I have
>  forgotten which ones are hosts for it but I think it was alot.  If you have
>  them within flying distance it could be a problem.  I looked, hosts are
>  ground cherry, milkweed, pokeweed, catknip, and other weed host.  If you
>  have the cucumber virus, aphids are the main vector.  It also winters on
>  various domestic berry plants.  Strawberry, blackberry, boysenberry, etc. 


The plants I have are and have always been 100% free of aphids. I have not 
seen ONE aphid this year on anything whatsoever. The vectors in my case are 
almost 100% cucumber beetles. I was going to catch some and crush them, and 
do a analysis fo the presence of the virus on Pickling cucumber seedlings 
which Harold explained awhile back to get a 100% confirmation, but never had 
the time. I am about 100% sure about the CB's being the cause of transmission.

>  The only effect I see from growing infected plants is a reduced pumpkin
>  size.  There is the chance that Steve will develope a resistant strain of
>  pumpkin.  Steve, if possible move everything back out of Aphid range,
>  whatever that is?????? Have fun, Roger
>  

No aphid problems at all, but the plants are totally enclosed in floating row 
cover, and now have makeshift polyethelene greenhouses (huge cloches) over 
them, and also have been treated with a mixture of insecticides. Right now 
all of the insects are pretty much gone and have been, since we have had 
several freezes.
As far as a resistant strain, I have one. (Well the first gen of one anyway). 
ALL of my plants had the virus except ONE of my 780 Momberts, (the same one, 
oddly enough, with the hermaphrodite flowers earlier). I tried to self it, 
but I crossed it with the 780 Eaton, which did have the virus later on, along 
with all of the others. But at least there is some resistance in this strain 
now. Who knows if it will be regressive in the next gen or not, but at least 
it is in there somewhere.

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