Here's some info on it...
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/610536/
http://pestalert.ifas.ufl.edu/caymv.pdf
http://smgrowers.com/info/canna.asp
I ordered some of the varieties mentioned - should I cancel those varieties?
edit: virus mentioned in last paragraph of these articles...
http://www.urbanjungle.uk.com/blog/2005/03/cannas.html
http://www.hartcanna.com/cultivate.htm
more...
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0704/canna_viruses.asp
http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat06land/l05-26-06.htm#3
This message was edited Mar 18, 2007 2:39 AM
Canna Yellow Mottle Virus info
Thanks for the links kooger,
good for people to be aware of this, especially when trading and ordering new cannas.
For safety (don't know if this helps much) I always pot up new cannas after I get them for awhile until I can see if there are any signs of virus.
What you all don't realize in this, is that you are giving cannas a bad reputation.
Even though most cannas carry virus, only some show it.
And as there are at least 4 known viruses to affect cannas, this information is also misleading.
This message was edited Mar 20, 2007 10:31 AM
I'm not attempting to give cannas a bad rap - I enjoy them very much, in fact, I just ordered some in the on-going coop. I am attempting to inform people abt the viruses cannas are susceptible to. Perhaps I should have titled the thread Canna Viruses as the others are mentioned in some of the articles. My intention was to help myself and others identify infected plants. I don't see how the info is misleading, just informing.
It isn`t like people can catch it or anything. :)
I mean all we can do is keep our garden tools clean,control insect vectors,destroy any canna that show symptoms and hope for the best. Noone is "immune" to any garden pest or disease unless they can walk on water of course.
then you should probably destroy all your cannas if worried about any carrying virus
This message was edited Mar 20, 2007 10:34 AM
Yep, not having cannas is a sure fire way to eliminate any possibilities of canna virus.
Get rid of all your plants and voila! no viruses, no insects, no tools to clean... :)
Can some cannas overcome virus,,, or does it eventually weaken the whole plant,I have been given conflicting answers.I do know that it is here in aus too...and that some growers continue to sell these plants knowing full well that they have it .I have been caught myself...just would like to know what the general consensus is on this one...I have read of collectors destroying their whole collections because of it....is that being too severe or are they right in doing so?
From what I've read, they don't overcome it but they can live with it for years. Some years it's bad, some years it's barely shows up. I guess you have to decide what you can live with.
To kooger:
I am very glad that you posted this thread. I think this issue should not be pushed under the carpet. I bought two lovely cannas a while back and they have never done superbly and now I definately know that they have the virus. I has devastated me for the last few days that I have gone on a search to make them better. But I have come to the realisation that I will need to destroy them. The good news is that I have not traded them with any one else. I have potted some up and was definately going to do so and I am just glad that I did not. And I think that the more everyone knows about the signs of the virus, the less sick plants will be traded. I just always put the health of my plants down to too much sun, not enough water, short cold snap ... you name it. But this summer (we are in Autumn now and they are about to finish their show) I really did everything right and they still look really run down.
To brical1:
I am in Australia too and though I love cannas, am soon going to be without any, as I will be destroying all of my cannas due to the virus thing. From what I have read, there is no fixing the plants. I bought my plants at a local nursery and am furious. I am even thinking of going to give them a visit as when I went there two weeks ago they were selling similarly looking plants, still.
Regards, Heike.
Thanks, heike. I'm sorry your's are doing poorly. I can understand your decision to destroy them. You work hard taking care of them, babying them and then they just don't look right. It's a darn shame, isn't it. ...I just received my canna coop orders and they are large rhizomes so I'm hoping for a good show this summer.
Oh California has this virus too and from what I have read it is in most countries and spreading like wildfire. It is terrible and just ruins the looks of the canna. I see virused cannas for sale in a lot of nurseries. How they can sell them like that, I do not get. I guess the growers have too much money tied up in them to destroy them all. It is so sad. They get to look so ugly so fast. When I see them for sale, I often mention them to the nursery staff and often they admit they are virused!
I stopped bringing any more canna into my yard for the last 2 had the virus and I couldn't tell it when I bought it, they showed the signs later on. I do not want my beautiful Tropicannas to catch it and have to be destroyed.
So if you have any special ones you love, I wouldn't chance bringing any others into the yard. I wonder if canna is the only host plant for Canna Yellow Mottle Virus.
http://www.smgrowers.com/info/canna.asp
Important Note: Canna collections worldwide have experienced problems with virus infected plants. In Britain Ian Cooke destroyed his National Collection because much of it was infected with a virus. In the United States the Canna Yellow Mottle Virus has sweep rapidly through collections and nurseries across the county. In an effort to curb further spread of this virus, the California Department of Agriculture has ordered the destruction of any infected variety. Inspectors from the Agricultural Commissioner's office for each county has been inspecting and sending in for analysis every variety of Canna from California nurseries. We have had our inspection in May 2005 and then destroyed all virus infected plants; the canna we continue to list are all virus free and we will continue to monitor and test these plants to insure this.