windeaux, thank you for providing your experimental details. I do not have any virused roses to experiment with. (I am now shutting down my 1000 rose garden due to age and health.) From the literature I would expect that cuttings taken in your zone in August (highest possble temperature) would have the greatest chance of being virus free. Also it appears that old wood may be preferable to new wood. Also, it probably would be advantageous to take cuttings from branches that did not have virus symptoms in the spring (in fact I would recommend that virused branches be removed from the plant when first observed). The first paper that drew my attention to this behavior is (please, keep in mind the reversal of our seasons with theirs): Authors: Dal Zotto, A.; Nome, S. F.; Di Rienzo, J. A.; Docampo, D. M. Author Address: Instituto de Fitopatologia y Fisiologia Vegetal INTA, 5009, Cordoba, Argentina. Title: Fluctuations of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) at various phenological stages in peach cultivars. Published in: Plant Disease, volume 83, pages 1055-1057, (1999). Abstract: " Fluctuations in Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) concentration were researched in single plants of six peach (Prunus persicae) cultivars-Kurakata, Red Haven, Nectar Red, Start Delicious, Meadowlark, and Loadel-by double antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) of dormant buds (May, June), flowers (September), new sprouts (November), and mature leaves (January) (Southern Hemisphere). The optimum extract dilution (sample weight per buffer volume) to detect the virus was also quantified. The average absorbance patterns of the six cultivars show a steady increase in virus concentration, ranging from A405nm 0.61 in May to A405nm 0.86 in July for dormant buds, to A405nm 1.22 in September in flowers, to 1.53 in November in new sprouts, where the highest concentration was found. Virus concentrations in mature leaves drop to values similar to those of noninfected plants in January (A405nm 0.12). The yearly average (six noninfected peach trees) ranged from A405nm 0.04 to A405nm 0.08. This drop coincides with an increase in summer temperature and attenuates foliation symptoms caused by PNRSV. Analysis of dormant buds, flowers, or new sprouts with 5-cm-long leaves was reliable to differentiate infected from noninfected plants. Cluster analysis of absorbance profiles for single plants of cvs. Loadel and Meadowlark, however, showed a comparatively low profile, with a drop at flowering time (A405nm 0.20 in September) close to the average of healthy controls. The difference between infected and healthy plants did not become apparent in all cultivars from the analysis of plants at a given phenological stage, for example by the analysis of flower only, the material most preferred to diagnose the virus. Therefore, plants should be analyzed during flowering and sprouting or flowering and dormancy (dormant buds)." Here is a link that might be useful: peach southern hemisphere study

This April 2009 "University of Georgia Agricultural Extension article" is of interest because it does NOT mention the confusing, misleading term "RMV" and DOES mention spread by prunning and insects: "Viral Diseases There are several viral diseases of roses. Most of these maladies are transmitted to non-infected plants through vegetative propagation processes used by commercial rose producers or through pruning. There is some evidence that at least two of these viral diseases are transmitted to other plants by insects or spider mites. Viral infected roses tend to be less vigorous, are more susceptible to other diseases, and are less likely to tolerate environmental stresses as healthy plants do. There are at least six known viral diseases of roses. Yellow and green mosaic patterns, leaf distortion and ring spots are possible symptoms of virus infections. (Figure 12) Others that exhibit viral-like symptoms have not been linked to a particular virus. It is not unusual to encounter plants infected with more than one virus. Also, such occurrences usually cause problems in positive identification. Some chemical toxicities and nutrient deficiencies express symptoms similar to those caused by viral diseases. Removing severely infected plants may be the only solution. Preventive measures to prohibit the spread of viruses include disinfecting pruning shears when moving from one plant to another, and a good insect control program is a must. Also, buy plants that are apparently healthy and exhibit no peculiar foliar symptoms (Figure 13)." ----------------------------------------------------- The 2010 University of California Davis -Ventura County extension article on rose virus also does not use the term "RMV" and also discusses pruning as a means of spread: http://ceventura.ucdavis.edu/Coastal_Gardener/Rose_Virus.htm Here is a link that might be useful: U. of Georgia article

The rose slugs I have can be seen on the underside of the leaf. When they're big enuf. The young ones rasp away a layer of leaf and as they grow they eat all the way thru, leaving only the veins. Leaf miners leave a pattern like above. They do not skeletize leaves like rose slugs do. Just more tunnels appear. Sometimes holding a tunneled leaf to the sunlight will show a dark spot at one end of a tunnel. That's the leaf miner.

comtessedelacouche (10b S.Australia: hotdryMedclimate) I started each post to you with the following qualifier: "since you are from Australia, you may find these links of use:" Please notice the use of "you may find". I suggest that if you find something in the links that you are interested in obtaining addition information / viewpoints about, that you start a new thread on that point. If your rose growing skills are anything like what I saw illustrated in the annual, congratulations!