I have a gut feeling that the Old Blush may have Rose Spring Dwarf. I have seen it on roses and I've finger pruned all the growth off and had it come back normal. What makes me think this about Old Blush is that all the growth looks the same. RRD doesn't do that. It starts at one site and moves out. Looking at the canes on OB, they were all good last fall; also the leaf margins are normal, without the odd patterns that are so common on RRD infected growth. About the Purple Splash, the two close ups are of leaf axil breaks with bad (as in lethal) canker problems. That is a deeper purple than we usually see, but I'd expect that depth of color is more of a BC thing. Solution is to cut off below the cankers; the one at the end of a cane is easy; the second one farther down on a cane is probably going to spread and gird the cane. The problem with leaving it is that the final death may come later in the summer and will be less likely to be replaced this year. The real problem with canker is that nobody talks about it .....much less talks about what they see in their own gardens. It's out there and common. I take major efforts to clean my secateur blades whenever I cut into (or even near) canker, because I've seen in the past how I've spread it to new areas when I've pruned fast and furiously.

I have earlier given a link to another thread where I discuss the results on neighboring roses of applying RoundUp to test roses. Since each thread will scroll off of this forum at a different rate, I feel it is appropriate to put that information into this thread. " To test for the occurrence of root grafting, experiments were conducted using the systemic herbicide Roundup®. Plants that were treated with the herbicide died as expected and approximately 50% of the adjacent, untreated Rosa multiflora ‘Burr’ plants and 10% of the adjacent untreated ‘Dr. Huey’ and ‘Sunflare’ plants showed mild herbicide toxicity symptoms. This could be explained if root grafting had occurred, allowing herbicide to move through the vascular connection between plants. " In the full paper the experimental conditions were given. "The Round-up tests utilized 470 multiflora plants, 148 plants of Dr. Huey, and 98 plants of Sunflare. The multiflora and Dr. Huey were planted approximately 11.8 inches apart (H.Kuska comment: it was not clear to me if they were mixed in the same row or in different rows). The Sunflare plants were planted 3.3 feet apart in rows. Roundup was applied to every other plant. The treated plants all died. About 50% of the multiflora plants showed roundup symptoms. 10 % of the Dr. Huey and 10% of the Sunflare plants showed symptoms." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I would expect that 3.3 feet apart would not be uncommon in many home rose gardens. I cannot post the complete paper because it is copyrighted. However, I can send e-mail copies to a limited number of individual requests under the educational exclusion. My e-mail address is: kuska@neo.rr.com The abstract is at: http://www.actahort.org/members/showpdf?booknrarnr=751_26 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Even the RoundUp label acknowledges that root grafting is a known problem: This is the instruction from the Round-Up label for cut stump applications: "Apply this product using suitable equipment to ensure coverage of the entire cambium. Cut trees or resprouts close to the soil surface. Apply a 50 to 100 percent solution of this product to the freshly cut surface immediately after cutting. Delays in application may result in reduced performance. For best results, applications should be made during periods of active growth and full leaf expansion. PRECAUTIONS, RESTRICTIONS: DO NOT MAKE CUT STUMP APPLICATIONS WHEN THE ROOTS OF ADJACENT DESIRABLE TREES MAY BE GRAFTED TO THE ROOTS OF THE CUT STUMP. INJURY RESULTING FROM ROOT GRAFTING MAY OCCUR IN ADJACENT TREES. Some sprouts, stems, or trees may share the same root system. Adjacent trees having a similar age, height and spacing may signal shared roots. Whether grafted or shared, injury is likely to occur to non-treated stems/trees when one or more trees sharing common roots are treated." http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/syllabi/325/schedule/Pest%20Management/Chemical%20Application%20&%20Safety/Roundup%20Original.pdf --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The iodine test isn't reliable; I know because Jim Amrine and I tested it on some stems from roses with both symptoms AND the vector mites. It was reported to be useful for overwintering canes. There is no ELISSA test yet. A couple of scientists have said how easy it will be to have one if they are funded, but no one has either. PCR tests at Oklahoma run about $35 a plant. IMO, if you've a questionable rose, ask on here for pictures of the specific cultivar's leaves known to be healthy, likewise the stipules, and buds especially the sepals. Also rate of growth, and form of the canes as well as the axillary breaks.

Here is an idea. If you see rose rosette in a public place, and can't stop, can't find an email etc. Send them literature through fax. There are free online fax services. I called the nursing home but my calls were never returned, so I sent a fax. I have a fax machine at home so it was easy. If they have an email, send an attachment. This way they can't forget, or ignore what you say. Hopefully they will pay attention. It bothers me to see it in public places, so I have made it a point to take a few minutes of my time to try and do something.