i dont see a pot worth keeping ...

what was the source of this plant....???

bigboxstore ..???

ken

I'm squinting at all the photos on this link and trying to match them with what you have. Does it look like any of these?

Does anyone who ever touches your plants smoke? or chew, or handle tobacco?

I'd take a bunch of real good closeups of both sides of the leaves for future ID-ing then bag it and dump it. Get it far, far away from your treasure trove of beautiful babies.

-Babka

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta diseases & pests

Tobacco Rattle virus?

As far as I know, no one handled my hosta since they arrived here.

Ken, it came from Bridgewood in about August 2011.
I usually keep hosta according to source, to avoid (as much as I know how) cross contaminating hosta from other nurseries, if it comes to that. I was not wanting to keep the pot, I was just wondering if I was over-reacting to dump the whole works....

This year, I put Fried Green Tomatos in the grouping of my major fragrant hosta, and the other day while I was taking pictures, noticed it looked strange.

As soon as I post this, I'll be bagging it as you suggest, Babka.

My Plantagenia has a similar virus.

Dr Lockhart has seen it, and Chris has also rendered an opinion that it's not tobacco rattle, but it's definitely virused. I believe I first noticed it in 2010

Since we don't know what virus it is and how that virus is transmitted, I've not done anything with it. So it's still in my garden now. I'm afraid to dig it out. for fear that its nastiness may be transmitted via root sap. And its neighbors are big and healthy beauties.

Last year, it showed NO signs of virus. But by no means do I think it has gone away. Plant viruses do not go away.

My plan is to Round Up the living crap out of the thing as it's emerging this year. The spot it occupies will not have a replacement as it's slated to become a rock walking path thru the garden... no pun intended.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is more than 1 virus in your plant. I see a bit of a ringspot symptom in 1 pic, but mostly symptoms that look more like Tobacco Rattle or Arabis Mosaic. There is also some collapsed tissue areas as well.

On top of all that, it shows a bit of similarity to one I had that tested positive for Tobacco Streak Virus, as seen in this pic.

Here are a couple links that show it and the testing process:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hosta/msg0521155915701.html

http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?sub=6999&desc=29

Does look like a virus of some kind.

Check out the link about different virus. Even though the hosta could of been free from virus in 2011, thrips and nematodes carry disease. Also wonder how many other bugs and animals carry disease and it just hasnt been discovered yet. Wouldnt be surprised if someday soon, we find out deer and rabbits carry disease....so many unkowns!
Wish there were more home test for these virus, test similar the home HVX test.

Sorry to see you have this in your garden. I would dump pot and all, as its not worth spreading to another plant put into the pot.

Here is a link that might be useful: Iowa State Publication hostas

Maybe it would be a good idea to talk to the nursery where it came from and see if they had any more problems with this. If it is not one thing , it is something else... bummer

Melissa, then I am more fortunate than you, since mine are in containers. Of course, I was wondering today if the pedestal I had it sitting on needed to be removed as well, since water ran through the pot and out on the general cypress mulch of the container area.

I read the article written by some Iowa State plant folks, linked above, and it seems that nematodes can be transmitters of some viruses.....but one quick read-through does not make me knowledgeable. I recommend everyone read the information if they are concerned too.

Well, it is also possible that my absolutely gorgeous and huge Fried Bananas is also coming down with it, it was right next to Fried Green Tomatos. There is a mottled look coming on about 3 of the leaves. It too is from Bridgewood and came in 2011.

What a bummer.

Buckeye and Trudy, thanks for adding further information.
In spring of 2012 it looked fine. It was this winter that I had a lot of squirrel problems digging in the pots. Don't know if the squirrels could bring in pecans or other nuts which carry a plant virus? But the hosta themselves stayed dormant until much later this year than last Fried Green Tomatos was almost fully leafed out this week, and then I noticed the odd leaves.

As I said above, I think I see the beginnings of the mottling of a darker green on the normally bright green to yellow Fried Bananas as well. I'll take pictures and post tomorrow. Meanwhile, it is now sitting in an isolated spot.

Last year, I had an issue with Venus and returned it bare root for testing to Rob Mortco but have not heard results from him.
It was from his nursery in 2012, the two today are from Bridgewood in 2011.

Hopefully I get a lid on it quickly.

You're having more bad stuff happen? It's like a year of Friday the 13thness. I think I'd shove that puppy in a bag and toss it in the garbage before it can infect anything else.

This is depressing. I knew about HVX and tobacco mosaic, didn't realize there were so many other viruses to beware of.

While I do believe that your FGT has a virus of some sort, don't be too quick to assume your FB has it too. This time of year, virus and frost damage can look similar. If in doubt, post another pic.

You can send the plant to a local University plant pathology lab if you want to know for sure what kind of virus this is.

Whatever the name, it's a virus, and since plants do not have immune systems it needs to be gotten rid of, pot, soil mix and all. Some viruses do use dagger nematodes as vectors for the disease. Tomato ringspot has this as a vector. You can mitigate that by pouring boiling water over the area where the plant was stationed. You could also use Zerotol as a soil drench in that area. Don't forget to disinfect your tools. Just in case.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Zerotol

Steve, that hosta is in a big bag in the trash already. I have another one, my also equally well developed Fried Bananas in observation and isolation to see if the mottling on some leaves disappears or worsens. It was near the other one. And bother were from the same source. All of the hosta I got from there are now separated from the others.

Oh geez, what a revolting development this is. But at least, it isn't in the ground like most hosta gardeners.

Before the trash man takes it away, you may want to take some samples. At Texas A&M, they will test a plant for $35.00. I'm sure your landgrant college has a similar program. If you know what the virus is, then you can better make decsions on what course to take with the others. You might also figure out how you got it.

A&M wanted leaves, stems and roots in a ziplock bag. Keep it refrigerated until you mail it. It was all on their website. You can probably find it for Alabama, too.

bk

Before the trash man takes it away, you may want to take some samples. At Texas A&M, they will test a plant for $35.00. I'm sure your landgrant college has a similar program. If you know what the virus is, then you can better make decsions on what course to take with the others. You might also figure out how you got it.

A&M wanted leaves, stems and roots in a ziplock bag. Keep it refrigerated until you mail it. It was all on their website. You can probably find it for Alabama, too.

bk

I feel for you, Mocc. I hope you can put the hammer down on this cr@p and nip it as quickly as possible.

Regards,
Don B.

BK our A&M equivalent is Auburn. They have a horticultural lab here in Mobile, or did once upon a time.

I'll give them a call.

I wanted to avoid touching it. Even putting the PICTURES of it in the file with my healthy hosta, gives me the creeps. :/

Steve, before I shut down for the night, I missed your post above about Zerotol, but thankfully GWeb emailing me all the comments, I caught it in my email.

Thanks for the very handy link. In less than 5 minutes from reading your note, to the confirmation of my order with Amazon,--- it took much less than 5 minutes....and so the Zerotol is due to arrive HERE this Friday. Now that's as close to "instant gratification" as I want to get.

I have to wait until Friday for delivery though....:)

Use disposable gloves.

bk