Here is another :
'Dancing Queen', last year it had 2 quarter size spots with green ink bleed, no test after test of August Moon. This year it has white ink bleed and blotches of white. Test result : no HVX.
Bernd

This one also tested with HVX test strips : fortunei 'Albomarginata', blotches and white ink bleed. Test result : no HVX.

Here is a nice blue corrugated seedling, has several spots of white ink bleed. Test result : no HVX.
Thanks for reading!
Bernd

send the link to chris.. if he doesnt gratuitously pop in

ken

The most dangerous HVX infected hosta is the one that shows no indication at all. A hosta can look perfectly normal and be infected and certain to transmit HVX if both the infected and new host hosta have their juices come in contact. Sanitizing tools and assuming every hosta may have HVX is the best and only way to almost surely prevent spread.

Other virus, that can be transmitted by insects, are far more susceptible to spreading throughout a garden. Testing negative for HVX can give a false sense of security as it only tells you that the hosta doesn't have HVX and it could have something far more contagious.

Indications of HVX wouldn't cause me to be alarmed. If it clearly matched the photos available in the Hosta Library, I would simply kill it and ensure the roots were dead before doing any digging (3-4 months would be reasonable) If the indications looked like another virus I would religiously spray to keep spreading by insects and 'Roundup' the plants if I was convinced it was a virus.

If you are aware of how HVX spreads, there is no reason to panic and digging it up without killing it is a mistake...in my opinion. Others may have differing opinions, but they are wrong.

Jon

Sorry to say there are other virus which hostas have. Check out the photos on link. Mosaic virus on hostas.

Other virus occur. So sorry!

We do have so much damage on hostas this winter!

Here is a link that might be useful: Mosaic Virus

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is the most common foliar disease of hostas. It is characterized by irregularly shaped white to tan spots with a brown border. The spots often lose their centers and the leaves become tattered and torn.

Tomato ringspot virus infection in hostas was associated with leaf mottling and chlorosis. Impatiens necrotic spot virus caused primary foliar lesions followed by latent infection. The tobravirus occurring in hosta was related serologically to both pea early-browning and tobacco rattle viruses, but was unusual in not being transmitted by mechanical inoculation to Nicotiana benthamiana or to N. clevelandii. Three unidentified isometric viruses, detected by electron microscopy and ds RNA analysis, were found in hostas with chlorotic ringspots, veinal necrosis and interveinal chlorosis. Mosaic virus, Rattlesnake virus.

Once you have tested for HVX you are left with anyone of the above often with indications that are very like one another. Don't think you can heave a sigh of relief when you get a negative HVX test. You could be in worse trouble. Fixating on one disease can be a big mistake.

Thankfully hosta are one of the toughest plants.

Jon

Thank you all! I will read about those other viruses.

Trudy, your link shows that some of my plants have this Mosaic virus, so I will dig out those 3 with soil, etc., whenever I feel like it. With the others I might see how they develop.

Jon, I agree, whenever something looks bad allover, simply get rid of it, very carefully. (I hate it!!!)
Thanks!
Bernd

I am curious. With all these different viruses....do they all spread in the same manner? Is each one different? Do any of them spread through the air?

It is to bad there are not test for some of the other viruses/disease which attack hostas.

Maybe some day there will be. I really think some other other virus/disease are more common now days than HVX as it was mentioned when we test for the HVX and it shows negative some gardens feel they are home free and dont dispose of the hosta.

Yep best to get those plants out of the gardens, not worth spreading!

So sorry berndnyz5, as this makes a lot of work for you to do.

I am very happy with my hostas, and gardening in general!

Trudy, I got used to removing 2 or 3 HVX plants each year, so I have a few other virus plants this year too, but no HVX yet. The upside is that I did not find any HVX. I have around 350 hostas, of those 210 different ones, so losing a few each year is acceptable and normal. The seedling and the Albomarginata losing is OK, but the 'Dancing Queen' hurts, will replace it, is such a good plant. About the others I have not decided yet.

Most people here on this forum buy from good growers, that makes it very safe for them. But some plants bought elsewhere might be infected which does not show yet, etc., so people have to be careful.

Hostas it is a great hobby. Let's say, my 4 bad plants out of 350 total, is about 99% good, which is about 100%, so I am very happy with my hosta gardening. Plus this digging is great exercise!

In respect to HVX testing, perhaps the virus concentration in my samples was too low for the HVX test strips to detect. I have asked Agdia about that.

Bernd

I received a response from Agdia's Ms. JS Lamborn. Since I focused on sampling where symptoms showed, my test results with HVX teststrips were correct.

Agdia not only sells HVX teststrips (ISK 16600), but also teststrips for other viruses common to hosta :
Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) - ISK 23203
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) - ISK 44501
Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) - ISK 20500
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) - ISK 39300
All of these ImmunoStrip kits come in packs of 5 ($32.50) or 25 ($105).
Agdia does not have ImmunoStrip tests for the detection of Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and Tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV). These are only available in Agdia's Testing Services lab, see link.
Bernd

Here is a link that might be useful: Agdia's Hosta test lab

Jamie,

No virus spread with air. HVX spreads only with sap through cuts, scrapes in both the infected and another hosta.

The other virus can be spread with insects; nematodes, thrips.....maybe others.

Bernd, I'm sure the test strips work, but it will cost $160 to set up for all these tests and once you find which one it is then you have to destroy the hosta anyway. I think testing like this is useful for producers.

My suggestion is, if you see something peculiar check it against photos of known infections. I really don't see the benefit of nailing the diagnosis of a particular virus since all virus are terminal and the quicker you eliminate the threat the better. It may be a nice scientific study and over many years may help in identifying different virus but it could cost over $30 for the testing and if it is an obvious virus, the hosta has to go anyway. If it looks a little strange, keep an eye on it and post it here where people can give their opinion.

BUT, as you know, I do not recommend digging out HVX infected hosta and I would kill it with glyphosate and insure there is no small bit of living tissue left which can harbor HVX for over 2 years.

Jon

Jon, who has those big bucks to do all these tests? I will remove hostas which lhave a lot of virus type symptoms on most leaves and therefore are a danger to other hostas, Doing an HVX test only indicates if the hosta has HVX or another virus, and all viruses so it seems destroy hostas and spread. 'Dancing Queen', the seedling and f.'Albomarginata' will go. I will wait with 'August Moon' and 'Queen o.t.Sea' to fall.

This worked well with HVX for me : tape leaves, then dig out plant with soil, line the hole and put fresh soil in it. Plants and old soil go into garbage. In between each plant and hole the (virus) shovel gets washed with 10% bleach. Shovel needs to be rinsed well or it will rust. There also will be a clean shovel for fresh soil.

I have two hostas which are shrinking in spite of fresh soil, etc. they might go as well. So I am set.
Bernd