Here is an article about RRD/RRV from the Ohio State University BYGLers (Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine) discussed the relatively recent appearance of rose rosette disease (RDD) on Knock Out roses. Roses in this group have been heavily used in landscapes because of their relative adaptability to a wider range of landscape conditions compared to their hybrid-tea cousins. However, in recent years, RDD has become a serious issue in Ohio landscapes, particularly in mass plantings. RDD was first reported in 1941 on multiflora rose Manitoba, Canada, Wyoming, northeastern California, and Nebraska; however, it took many years for scientific sleuthing to reveal the exact cause of the disease and the mechanism for disease transmission. Indeed, until very recently, the pathogen was thought to be a phytoplasma; these are prokaryotic (no nucleus) cells that lack crosswalls. However, phytoplasmas did not "fit" with the discovery that RDD is transmitted by an eriophyid mite, specifically the ROSE LEAF CURL MITE (Phyllocoptes fructiplilus) that inhabits the shoot tips and leaf petal bases of roses. Phytoplasmas inhabit plant phloem and eriophyid mites do not have the phloem-piercing mouthparts of leafhoppers or psyllids; two common vectors of phytoplasma diseases. Research published in 2011 by scientists from the University of Arkansas and Oregon State University showed the true causal agent for RDD to be a new negative-strand RNA virus that has been tagged, ROSE ROSETTE VIRUS (RRV). Readers may recognize the name because "RRV" was used before on the road to discovering the true culprit when it was believed a virus was involved prior to the phytoplasma side-trip. A virus once again "fits" because virus particles are not limited to phloem and may be readily available within a range of plant tissue to hitch-hike on eriophyid mites. Currently, the disease is diagnosed based on observed symptoms since there is no laboratory method to detect the virus; however now that the virus has been identified, diagnostic tests may be developed. The mite alone causes little damage; however, the virus produces a range of symptoms that first become evident in the spring and intensify as the season progresses. Infected plants produce succulent bright red shoots covered in stunted, twisted stems, and leaves. The leaves may also appear red, chlorotic, or a combination of both symptoms and the shoots may be covered by an abnormally high number of thorns. The twisted growth may be mistaken for damage caused by a plant growth-regulator herbicide such as 2, 4-D. The disease is lethal to multiflora rose and it was originally thought that the pathogen was specific to this non-native noxious weed. However, it has become clear in the intervening years that RDD also infects virtually all cultivated roses. Once plants become infected, all parts of the plants are infectious. Pruners used on infected plants can spread the pathogen to non-infected plants. There are no pesticides available that will control the disease, so management focuses on removing the pathogen by removing infected plants. Entire plants, including the roots, should be removed and destroyed; while the pathogen does not survive in the soil, it will survive in roots. If possible, rose growers should focus their attention on eliminating nearby multiflora rose plants since the plants can serve as reservoirs for this disease. Here is a link that might be useful: OSU article about RRD

I know it's scary. But it just shows us that Mother Nature will have her way, in spite of man's feeble attempts to alter the course of events she has set in place. I.e., we may will have to live with it - RRD. Not that it should stop anybody from doing more research work on it. Being in the medical field, one looks at these "particles" with awe, and realise how smart those little packages of DNA are. Simple, but extremely smart. Smart enough to outwit human beings. How could such a small particle of matter enter a cell, hijack the cell's DNA and have it function the way it wants it to? With such devastating effects. Smart? Yes. Have you noticed how quickly the Hepatitis B virus develops resistant strains to the specific antiviral agents designed for it, and it alone? Have you noticed how the influenza viruses change their antigenic "appearance", so that the flu vaccine you received last year may no longer be effective this year? Have you noticed how their exacting choice of vector hosts allows them to cover large distances? Think West Nile virus. Think Avian flu. This, of course, isn't anything new. The competition for survivor, propagation and dominance between different life forms on earth has been going on ever since life forms came into existence. What's different now is that human beings, as one of those life forms, decided, unilaterally, to change the rules. They set out to conquer the rest of the world by sheer brute force, rather than await the gentle, forbiddingly long, tide of naturally evolution to give us the advantages. Along with this single minded quest to conquer nature, comes an expectation that we shall be protected from Nature's harm at all times. Which, of course is unrealistic. So, my approach to this is in the words of Meher Baba and Bobby McFerrin - "Don't worry, be happy". Of course, for any one who has lost a whole garden of roses to RRD, who lost someone he/she knows to HIV, this is the hardest part. But eventually, many of us come to accept that philosphy. As I am starting to, having lost a treasured colleague to CMV infection. But we are inundated with black berries. We are under seize, they have surrounded us. Prickly canes poke through holes in our perimeter fence every day, mocking at my futile efforts to control them. So, the plague of RRD, although a major disaster for our garden, may rid us of the blackberries (if it's true that they get RRD, of course). However, I won't discount the blackberries' ability to generate a clone that is immune to RRD. And, hey, presto! And "we" have found a solution to the problem - RRD resistance! And the cycle will begin again. (Yes, we are really scared of RRD. But you will be shaking in your boots if you are a banana farmer and someone mentions the Banana Bunchy Top Virus.)

The following was stated by michaelg: "Our resident expert Ann says that plants are usually not cured by removing a cane at the base. If you catch it early when only one cane shows symptoms, she recommends splitting an own-root plant's crown and throwing away half the root system along with half of the top growth." H.Kuska comment: can you please supply a link for that statement so that it can be put into context? Does the above recommendation apply to all roses at all times in the growing season, or to only one (or a few types of roses such as climbers but not other types such as hybred teas, does it apply only to own root roses but not grafted roses, etc? An example of an actual quote that she has made recently: "Posted by anntn6b z6b TN (My Page) on Thu, Oct 11, 12 at 23:11 Henry, ................................... Cutting off an infected cane HAS to be done before the virus moves down into the roots (assuming stem meristem infection) and back out. I've saved several roses from different classes in my yard by catching the problem when only a single leaf node (or three on one side of the cane) were infected in fall. I saved an American Pillar in spring when it was out on a cane about ten feet from the roots. I've never saved a HT, and I've only seen RRD on HTs in spring. That may have something to do with the transmission times in fall to late fall." http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/roses/msg101551485093.html?19 ---------------------------------------- The next 2 are posts that you recently made concerning cutting off canes in one thread ( http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/roses/msg0920343630587.html ) : "Posted by michaelg z6B NC Mts (My Page) on Mon, Sep 3, 12 at 9:45 A cluster of shoots and with crumpled leaves ( different from equally young growth on the same variety), these are additional RRD symptoms. If you remove such suspicious growth with pruners, be sure to sterilize them and bag the trimmings. Also you should take the underlying cane down to grade immediately." --------------------------------------- "Posted by michaelg z6B NC Mts (My Page) on Mon, Sep 3, 12 at 12:40 KR, What I do if I have strong suspicion but am not fully convinced is to cut the plant down, removing most of the cane and all foliage, and see what grows back. I just dug a plant yesterday that came back funny. Another one that I cut back at the same time looks fine. The latter previously had probable RRD growth high on only one cane." --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- Ann's E-book is in a format that is difficult to search (I recommend a PDF format.). http://www.rosegeek.com/id5.htm In Chapter 2 she states: "A single symptom does not make a confirmation of RRD. When the growth character of a cultivar is known, appearance of multiple RRD symptoms will alert the rose owner to possible danger. Some symptoms of RRD resemble herbicide damage; a thorough search of the area around the roses for signs of herbicide use must allow for long distance herbicide drift - especially in warm weather. A rose bush outgrows herbicide damage, RRD infections persist from year to year until the death. Roses likewise outgrow �blind shoots� but the blind shoot looking growth on a rose in Georgia became more symptomatic of RRD two months later (Fig. 6). Weather damage in spring or fall can also cause contorted new growth, but comparison with growth on other roses in the same garden can be used evaluate the problem. If the damage was weather caused, the rose will out grow it. Because ot the chance of false diagnosis, each rosarian needs to think about the problem and decide in advance a course of action. Then when RRD enters a garden, the hard decisions have already been made. If RRD has not been reported nearby, and there are symptoms that suggest it, you may choose to reduce the mite population that transmits the infection. Digging up and isolating the questionable rose should also be considered. In addition, I would (and have had to) spray the bush in question and the surrounding roses at ten day intervals with Cygon 2E (following label precautions) while waiting for confirmation of RRD. Cygon 2E is the only spray that will kill the eriophyte mites. They are different from spider mites. Most chemicals approved for treatment of spider mites are not effective for the mites that transmit RRD. At present (2007) Cygon 2E is not readily available. There have been no tests to see if other miticides kill P. fructiphilus. Avid is approved for general use against eriophyid mites, but its efficacy in fighting RRD vectors is unknown." H.Kuska comment: I interpret the above to suggest: "Digging up and isolating the questionable rose should also be considered." But that nothing was said about cane cutting. ---------------------------------- In Chapter 4 the following appears: "When I find a RRD infected plant in our rose garden, it�s rogued out and burned fast. Surrounding roses are examined and sprayed. Canes of nearby roses that a mite could have fallen onto from the infected area (canes under the infection) are also removed. (To do this hurts because I hate to remove a healthy cane, but it's a logical sacrifice)." AND " Leaving a RRD-infected rose in the middle of an otherwise healthy garden is the worst course of action. Spraying the infected plant and surrounding area then rogueing out the bush is still the best course of action, perhaps with the addition of pre-emptive spraying during hot dry spells, especially in late summer, the optimum breeding season for the mites that transmit the virus." -------------------------------------- Also in Chapter 4: Our RRD infections so far: (H.Kuska comment, I will only list the "bushes that relate to cutting off the cane") "'Charles Austin'- we saved the bush by cutting the cane off rapidly fall 2001" "'Rouletti' we hope we have saved this by removing the sick cane early fall 2002" "'Fuschia Meidiland' we cut off the cane, disease came back, it's gone spring 2003" "''Gloire de Dijon' own root, first symptoms near root, one cut back didn't work spring 2005" "'Peter Beales version of Parks Yellow Tea Scented China' spring 2005 first sick out on one long cane, we cut it back, RRD came back fall 2005, we took out half the bush supporting that cane and lost the whole plant fall 2006" "'Golden Salmon Superior' Great ownroot Polyantha; tried removing the sick cane fall 2005 removed spring 2006" "'Seven Sisters' one cane sick, removed it; two canes sick three months later , spring 2006 it's gone" "'American Pillar' one sick cane cut off, so far rest of bush is healthy spring 2006" -------------------------------- Also in Chapter 4: "Case 2 - ONE STRIKE AND YOU'RE OUT Dr. Kent Campbell lives near Bowling Green, Kentucky and has been living with Rose Rosette for a number of years. There are fences near him with wild multiflora and the multiflora is sick with RRD. He can't control the fences on other folks' property, but he can control the effects of the resulting RRD on his roses. He told me about his "One Strike and You're Out" rule. When he sees aberrant growth that he associates with rose rosette on a cane, he cuts that cane back to the bud union. That's strike one. Then he watches the plant. If the plant shows additional aberrant growth, it's out. He estimates that half of his infected roses recover with no additional signs of infection. He has experience and he knows what the disease looks like on the roses he grows. With what he has learned, he continues to grow roses and to enjoy them. In 2001 I asked him to approve the summary above. He replied, "What you have written about me is essentially correct. However, I have mellowed just a tiny bit this spring. If the noted infection is "slight" and the bush is big and otherwise healthy, it becomes more like 3 strikes and you're out. Usually, though, the disease strikes with great force and much of the bush is covered with witches' broom and obvious abhorrent growth quickly." " ----------------------------------- Still in Chapter 4: "I also believe there may be a seasonal element to the success of one strike and you're out. If, and I emphasize If, all the nutrient flow is one directional: roots TO leaves, then cutting a cane may work. If there is a continuing flux-with nutrient interchange roots to leaves to roots on a daily basis then no amount of cutting back may work. We are currently watching our plant of 'Charles Austin' which showed RRD symptoms (Figure 1) at the tip of one cane. We cut the cane off at the base within five minutes of seeing the ugly red growth. We are closely watching the area where the cane was cut next to the soil. I estimate that the growth happened in two days. We seem to have saved the bush; two years after we saw the "rooster tail" the rose remains symptomless." ----------------------------------- Still Chapter 4. "By not removing roses that were known to be infected and trying to allow the maximum bloom from each bush, the entire garden was lost. A garden under this much disease pressure could possibly survive, but I wouldn't even use the "one strike and you're out policy". I would immediately remove suspect plants, which is what happens in our garden (under very low disease pressure) where we have had one half of one percent RRD loss. Something we don't do in our garden, premptive spraying with Cygon, would be advisable under the high disease pressure conditions to which the LMU garden is subject." ----------------------------------- In Chapter 5: " One of the things we have tried to do this summer is to devise a list of subtle early symptoms that would alert a gardener to keep an eye on a particular rose and to know when to spray the mites to prevent potential spread from a suspect bush while it is under observation. This would reduce the chance of over reaction and killing healthy bushes simply because of a blind shoot or other false symptoms." Ann summarises in a FAQ: "FAQ - How do you treat an infected garden": "How do you treat an infected garden? The best course of action if you are convinced one of your roses is infected is to first spray the area with Cygon 2E, then rogue it out and burn it (or bag it and send it to the landfill), and keep a sharp lookout for additional symptoms on other plants, especially on plants adjacent to and downwind of the infected plant. If you have the option, remove any wild roses that might be a source of infection. If you have a rose that is "iffy", that is, it might be sick, but you really don't want to rogue it out, then you may want to place it in isolation. The isolation can be chemical (spray often to make sure no mites from it travel to other roses) or physical (dig it up and keep it away from other roses.). One way that we live with the threat of RRD is to space bushes far enough apart that we can see the individual canes and try to keep canes from one bush from contact with other plants. (This is just hypothetical in our old garden rose beds.) When in doubt, it�s better to dig up, isolate and closely observe a single infected plant. See Chapter 4 for more information." http://www.rosegeek.com/id32.htm --------------------------------------------- H.Kuska comment. One of the advantageous of internet "publication" is that the article can be updated as additional information becomes available. My web page information is at: Here is a link that might be useful: My rose rosette web page

Wow that is much more encouraging news than I'd suspected! Thank you so much for chiming in Ann and reassuring me on most of these roses! None of your messages were "dig this rose out immediately" so at least I get to stall for a while! I'm glad to hear some of these bizarre foliage symptoms can have causes other than RRD. We definitely had a sudden burst of extremely hot weather in early June after a cool wet May (like going from 60's to 90's for several weeks nonstop) so that could explain some of the odd growth patterns. The chlorosis isn't something I'd normally be that concerned about so if there's not any pattern of explanation for RRD, I'll let it ride. You are absolutely right that we never get rust around here except maybe in late fall, so I have no idea it could look any different than the "cheetos" dusting I've seen on photos. Again, it's a relief to have that foliage explained by something that around here at least is temporary. For Sweet Vivien, I'll let you know if she ever gets those particular canes longer than 6" and post some pictures. She's a short rose at best and is at present only 18" tall tops, so I can't tell what her canes would look like with 6" on them. For Darlow's Enigma, I could try to tell you what the sexual parts of his blooms look like, but I'm not sure I can identify the sexual parts of most mammals much less plants. I can try taking some more pictures of the suspect growth from a top angle and hopefully that will capture the parts in question. I'll definitely keep my eyes out for rogue RRD sprigs from roots nearby. One of my neighbors had a tiny sprig from the ground that looks like RRD, so I'll go dig that out for her. The tenacious roots of Dr. Huey make it not surprising that other rose growth could be lasting beyond the original bush. Rifls, I'm glad that Garden Delight is doing so well for you! I love that rose bush, and mine is particularly robust being from Palatine. Mine is incredibly hardy and makes a good pair with Firebird Citiscape. JC_7a_MiddleTN I am grateful that you posted with an indication that those hyperthorny canes might be normal for Inspiration!! It might make the equally hyperthorny menace of Cape Diamond less troublesome too since both are canes that don't have a finger's distance of space without lethal thorns on them. If they're potentially OK I'll leave them be until I see more signs of trouble. I'll probably post a few more pictures of roses that worry me, but I'm grateful that the odd signs I've seen so far aren't things to immediately worry about yet. I'll also post some photos of Typhoid Robin from last fall to demonstrate that I can indeed identify RRD when it's obvious :(. Thanks so much for your input! This was a lovely birthday present of good news Cynthia