KEEPING A NEW ROSE VIRUS AT BAY

Steps are now in place to prevent a damaging virus, which could pose a threat to roses in UK gardens, from entering the country, Rose rosette virus (RRV) is causing significant – and a rising amount of – damage to plants in the USA and Canada but has yet to reach Europe.

Now rose plants and cut flowers imported from Canada, India, Mexico or the USA must have a phytosanitary certificate confirming they were grown in an RRV-free area.

Symptoms include a proliferation of branches or leaves, often described as ‘witches brooms’, an excessive number of thorns, and deformed buds and flowers. The virus is spread by a microscopic eriophyid mite, Phyllocoptes fructiphilus, which feeds on the plants and is so small it can be transported by the wind. The RHS and Defra are currently funding a
PhD student who is researching RRV.

Information taken from the RHS magazine ‘The Garden’ October 2019