If one of the wild roses has an immunity against the virus, it may be possible that grafting ornamental roses to that wild rose (used as understock) may transfer the immunity. "if silenced rootstock can efficiently transmit the silencing signal to non-transformed scions, as has already been demonstrated in herbaceous plants." This article is talking about adding genetically modified RNAi-eliciting constructs to normal rootstocks, but it should also work if a wild rose already has the proper RNAi. See the review below. Here is a link that might be useful: link to scientific article

Sorry for the delayed response. It has been a very hectic past few days! Dumb question. Is RRD contagious? Meaning if I try the wait and see approach (by removing only the impacted canes instead of digging up the whole plant) with the roses who don't seem to have it as bad yet.....will I take a risk that somehow the RRD could get transmitted to the roses who don't have it? I would hate to lose any of the seemingly healthy roses by doing this. Moving forward, is there anything I can do to lessen the chances of the roses getting RRD? This summer Japanese beetles have been widespread in this area. Honestly, I can't ever remember them being this bad before now...or ever even seeing them really. I know of several other people who have knockout roses here and everyone is having the same problem with the Japanese beetles feasting on them. So as bad as it may sound, I can take some solace in knowing it is not just my roses that are getting hit. Is there anything I can spray on the roses to prevent Japanese beetles from attacking them?

I added what I had on Friday. I can see the addition, but it was never recorded in the number of posts???? Title: "First report of rose rosette disease caused by Rose rosette virus on Knock Out roses in Louisiana." Author(s) : Singh, R.; Valverde, R.; Cook, M.; Owings, A. Author Affiliation : Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. Author Email : rsingh@agcenter.lsu.edu Journal article : Plant Health Progress 2016 No.August pp.PHP-BR-16-0022 ref.1 Abstract : " To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of rose rosette disease caused by Rose rosette virus on Knock Out roses in Louisiana. It is difficult to assess the total value of roses in Louisiana but this disease has the potential to negatively impact the thriving rose industry in the state."

I also meant to say that the RRV infection pictured in Our Lady occurred in 2008. So she has gone another 12 years after the cane was cut off. This was not the only RRV rose I've done the cut back to with success. About 10% of my RRV roses with ONLY ONE cane involved recovered if that cane was cut down to the crown immediately upon observation. That means that 90% of the time new growth will also sprout with symptoms showing you that the virus has spread throughout the rose and the whole rose needs to be removed. In the cooler months obviously the growth is slowed down so symptoms may take awhile to emerge.......I say this so that people who have roses that are not easily replaced have a glimmer of hope. I know too well about the decimation RRV can cause. Most are not aware that Tulsa had the 2nd largest rose garden at one time in the United States. When RRV first hit it wiped out 80% of their roses and continued to kill more. Now there are just a hand full from what they used to have. It was a devastating blow to a garden that was installed by the WPA (older folks will know what that organization was). It mowed mine down as well. So if you don't want to mess around with it I understand more then some.......................Maryl