The Meyer was first brought to the US by Frank Meyer, agricultural explorer for the USDA in 1908; by the middle of the century it had become quite popular with home gardeners; but after the discovery of the virus, virtually all were destroyed. I know that a few exist still of the originals; and the virus is not harmful to the tree; only if it is allowed to spread. Your tree produces better fruit; because it is older... a common trait of most all citrus. If it were my tree I would not have it tested; because if it were found to have the virus (likely) they would probably destroy it.

Do the right thing and have it tested

Well I have a small cutting of the tree, as rooted as a "backup" just incase something went wrong with the air layer. It has rooted and is quit healthy. I can have that tested. If they destroy it then they destroy it. The mother tree is very far off the beaten path in the middle of no where with absolutely 0 citrus tree's around.

As of right now, I have no proof this tree carries the virus. I will have the cutting tested, and I will gladly inform you of the results as I would hate to "spit in your face". Never been much of a spitter.

Stickstring, definitely do NOT leave the 5-1-1 in place around the rootball if you plant your tree in-ground. You want the roots to be in the native ground or whatever the soil is in the planting area. One beauty of 5-1-1 is that it will fall away from the roots with very minimal trauma. After planting, use all that old mix as a mulch around the tree.

Josh

Thanks josh! Like I said before, it will be another year or so before I even consider putting them into the ground. Just curious as to exactly how to go about doing so...

Thanks again!

Pip, as I understand this virus, the new (since the 1960's I think) root stocks all commercial citrus groves are planted on are resistant to this virus. The OP's tree is unlikely at this point to affect any commercial growers.

Northern California is not an area where commercial citrus are grown.

Rootstock means nothing to a susceptible scion. Cough key lime cough

"Northern California is not an area where citrus is commercially grown"

Tell fourwinds that. Suceptable or not they can't ship infected trees. 12 out of 14 of mine came from your not commercial area.

Four Winds grows under screen and has for several years now. But because of Citrus Greening though.

Up here in the northern California foothills, we grow mandarins almost exclusively. The Owari Satsuma is the main crop.

Josh

Yes, 3.5 hrs north east from my location their are some citrus groves.

Pip313, you have said your peace, no need to drag on in regards to the "what if". I am a man of my word, I have already contacted the central California tristeza eradication agency. I will be given more info via email hopefully before the day is up but I believe they will need a leaf and a small portion of a branch. The lady on the phone was very nice and said if the tree has been there for many years and being in the location it is, it shouldn't be of much concern. BUT, don't want to be the local spitter, so will see soon what this tree is all about. Would be pretty neat if they can give me the tree's "age" also.

OK,I stand corrected. However, seeing that this tree is at least 60 years old, and there have been no new reported outbreaks of Tristeza virus in that area in that time, it seems that the odds of this tree infecting at this point is very, very low to almost nonexistent. I don't see a need to kill this tree at this time. I do think it's important to keep all clones from it on the same property, which the OP is going to do.

The op stated that if they take the tree they're only taking the clone not the full tree

wanted to chime in on the remove soil/dont remove soil argument. I dont do it never have and never will. I planted 11 different varieties of fruit trees last spring. No none were citrus but a tree is a tree. 5 peaches, 3 plums, 3 apples all 5 gallon pots not dormant bare root. I have planted many hardwood trees and an ornamentals and never removed the soil. Most of us know how terrible nursery/wholesaler soils can be and I have never lost one to root rot. Just dig a good hole, tease the roots a little, back fill with the soil you removed and water correctly.

Pip even the PDF you linked eludes to that. The bathtub effect is when you dig a hole, put the plant in it and backfill with something OTHER than what you dug out. Infact unless i missed it that PDF says nothing about removing all the soil around the roots prior to planting.

why would you want to impart undue stress to a tree by bare rooting it?

mike

"The op stated that if they take the tree they're only taking the clone not the full tree"

Pip,I don't understand your point here. Take the clone? Do you mean destroy? He's already said he's going to have it tested. It matters not whether they test the clone or the tree it was taken from, either test will tell if the tree is infected. The air layered clone is essentially the same plant as the tree. If the clone is infected, so is the tree it was taken from. They don't have to test both.

And he said he was not going to remove the clone from his property.

It's up to the California tristeza eradication agency to decide what to do at this point, if anything.

Almost all Meyer lemons are propagated as rooted cuttings. Meyer is among the easiest citrus varieties to root. Few Meyer lemons are grafted today. You should have no trouble putting a Meyer lemon growing on its own roots directly into the soil. I have transplanted Meyer lemons into the soil from containers without the slightest problem. The adopt readily. There has been some disagreement with members replying to your post whether the 5:1:1 medium should be removed when the tree is transplanted into the soil. If the 5:1:1 medium readily falls from the root system as a poster wrote above, I think I would shake it out then plant it in t he ground using only the soil that was taken out when the hole was dug. I would not, on the other hand, try to force any out that would cause any damage to the tree's root system. I'm positive when the tree is removed from the container, you will see a mass of roots through the medium, this is VERY common growth with trees grown in air root pruning containers. So far you have done an outstanding job growing your tree - congratulations .- Silica

Silica, I appreciate the response. I do believe your location determines if you see more grafted vs cutting grown meyer's. I was in colorado and Wyoming for a few years and all the meyer's I saw were all cutting grown tree's. Here in California, I see nothing but grafted meyer's.

Stickstring, that is Interesting, I lived on the east coast for a while, and there all Meyer Lemons were also rooted cuttings. -Silica

Stickstring

I am interested in scion/rooting wood from your Meyer lemon tree. If it is found to be infected and no one thinks a Tristeza Meyer would be a threat in my Cincinnati home town I am still interested. All my trees are grafted onto immune rootstock or sacrificial (Sweetlee tangerine) tree pictured way above.

Keep your Meyer lemon going unless ordered to destroy it.

Steve

So now we are promoting distribution of uncertified, suspect budwood?

I really thought the people here are citrus lovers, willing to protect the species. The Amount of people willing to spread disease is shocking.

Pip-4.0

I have already talked with state agricultural official about receiving in stat and out of state citrus trees. Their primary concern is the movement of insect pest. The closest citrus trees are nearly 800 miles from here. I would like to get feedback from other on the concern the Tristeza may attack other trees. If not there is no problem. I also keep my tree sprayed for insects so if one bites its dead. I would also like to know what transmits the disease. It may not even exist here. My 2 main interests and kumquats and a GOOD tasting Meyer lemon. Those are the only 2 citrus trees worth growing in Cincinnati, zone 6, OH

Steve,

Unfortunately, if the mother tree is infact infected with the virus then I will not send any budwood or cutting material. I do agree with pip313 in that regard. Especially since johnmerr confirmed the only reason the meyer's are so good is because of the tree's age. if the tree is not infected and there are no rules or laws against sending you wood, then I am sure we can figure something out.

Stickstring Thanks

It is the best way to go. I will pray for uninfected tree.

Steve

Steve is wrong about no trees within 800 miles, I live a whole lot closer than that.

Don't assume your the only one with citrus in the north Steve.

Pip

I thought you were in California. My International folk dance partner has citrus trees and she live about 0.9 miles from me. Yea I know

Pip 4.0 The Tristiza virus is transmitted by the brown citrus aphid. - Silica

you can justify it all you want, oh it needs a vector, oh there arnt any commercial operations nearby. Guess what? Steve is close enough to me to pose a problem for my plants. Just because there are not commercial plants around does not mean you have the right to risk others plants. Don't be selfish.

The op's Meyer is not special. There is no reason to prefer budwood from that tree over budwood that is Known to be clean. For gods sake if you can't afford a tree I'll buy it for you Steve. Just admit that your wrong for thinking its justifiable to spread suspect citrus.

Pip313,

If you are still offering to buy tree's I will take a Violette de Bourdaux fig tree! PLEASE! I have always wanted one but could never find someone willing to give up a cutting and have heard of too many Internet companies sending you all the fig varieties BUT the one you actually ordered! :) no I'm just kidding on buying me a tree, but I really have always wanted a Violette de Bourdaux

HLB is getting a near to total cure by heating the infected trees to temperatures of 118 F for and extended time. The trees get and 8 hour break at 85F each day. This might work for Triseza infected trees. My greenhouse toped 13F many times in early spring.

That is a treatment not cure, you can not get the roots that hot.

The offer is for Steve only. And only after he admits he's wrong for wanting to ship suspect budwood.

Again there is nothing special about the Op's Meyer lemon. Period.

Holy crap can we beat this horse anymore. First off there is ZERO evidence that OP's tree is even infected, only assumption based on its age. If OP has it tested and its clean then by all means send the budwood to anywhere its legal to do so. If it is infected, well thats for OP to decide what to do.

Steve, I am 751 miles from Cincinnati.

Pip, I agree with you about not spreading a disease. your attitude sucks on how you present your concerns.

mike

Your joking right stick string? You can't get that variety?

http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1001928

pip, one of the best things about Gardenweb is the fact that it's free from so much of the internet commenting boorishness and in-your-face animosity. It's great to associate with calm, polite people who maturely talk to each other about gardening. Could I suggest that some of your comments here are approaching boorishness and animosity and ask you to rethink your commenting style?

Pip, obviously I'm joking... Holy smokes... Not joking on ordering one once and receiving wrong variety. So never tried again. So everything will be ok, I do not want you to buy me a tree :) relax

Oh also, just to add, there is something very special about my meyer lemon tree. It has history, it has a story, it's been documented in diaries by someone who is no longer alive. Yes, it may not have "magical fruit", or it may not be a one of a kind rare lemon, but yes, it is special.

Special to you, not special to anyone else.

If I budded your tree and any other Meyer absolutely no one could tell the difference, besides if you have a virus or not.

Does it need to be special to anyone but me? U keep bringing up the fact that this myer is "not special". Everyone including myself has already agreed and confirmed that. Johnmerr even added the fruits may taste better due to the age of the tree. Not from it being a "special tree". So why keep fighting it? Leave it be. I've been incredibly polite and respectful to your wish's, concerns, and random comments. Getting very old. Everyone has heard what u have to say, and I believe all agree with you. So chill out bro

Pip you have said your peace move on.

Stick. If you tree is proven to be clean send me some budwood. Ill grow it here in oklahoma and it will be special to me.

Mike

Because Steve wants budwood from that tree. He seems to think its a superior tree. It's not.

Who the bleep are you to tell me to move on?

You've been reported to the state of California for attempting to ship uncertified budwood. Congrats

"You've been reported to the state of California for attempting to ship uncertified budwood. Congrats"

LMFAO! Someone call the internet police.

im sure the California Bureau of Investigations will send their top cop. They have nothing better to do than chase down a complaint from someone in michigan against someone on the internet.

I am sorry I asked for disease budwood and caused an uproar. I do not want disease budwood.

Steve

Steve. You did absolutely nothing wrong. The whole problem here is there is ZERO evidence of stick's tree having a virus. At this point only Pip is 100% certain that the tree IS infected which is purely an assumption based on what little facts are known. If anyone is in the wrong Pip is for accusing stick and you of trying to move infected budwood.

This topic went so far off track, LOL.

Your wrong on 2 points.

His statement on the age of the tree puts it at older than the released clean version "improved Meyer lemon".

I'm not convinced it's dirty, I'm convinced it's far more than possible.

Steve pm me and I'll follow through on my promise to you.

Quoting the op, The tree was planted inbetween 1935-1945 on a old homestead which is now our family hunting ranch.

It took many years to find a clean sample to get "improved Meyer lemon". It's significantly more likely that the tree is infected than not. If uninfected trees were plenty then the release would have happened much sooner.

Lets get back on topic then,

Mksmith wrote this:

Pip even the PDF you linked eludes to that. The bathtub effect is when you dig a hole, put the plant in it and backfill with something OTHER than what you dug out. Infact unless i missed it that PDF says nothing about removing all the soil around the roots prior to planting.

Putting a plant already potted in 5-1-1 in the ground with the 5-1-1 still there is putting a plant in and backfilling with something OTHER than what you dug out. Now in this case backfilling only refers to the containers volume. Normal potted plants don't hold the amount of air 5-1-1 does. Once put in the dirt that air space can become water space. Not an issue for dense potting soils. So a 5 gal potted plant would have a 5 gal bathtub effect. Not a good thing but not a huge deal. Once you get to 15 gal potted plants id be worried.

Bumped into this thread while looking for mksmith.

The origional meyer lemons were cariers of tristeza and the improved Meyer ment that there was a desease free meyer eventualy found and is now used for all Meyer trees. As for shipping and traiding, I have worked with many extention agents and realize that we should not be moving plants or soil around. I do not want anything given to me or do I ship out plants to others.

Pip your 'gift to me" NZL is in ground about to enter its 3 winter. It has 30 lemons on it. I also have a bud from that grafted onto US897 with 1 lemon and a bud grafted to seville sour with 3 lemons on it.

Steve