Hosta virus X

Hosta virus X (HVX) is a virus that infects Hostas.[1] The disease was first identified in 1996 by plant pathologists at the University of Minnesota.[1] The virus has reached epidemic proportions and can be found in most garden centers and nurseries around the globe.[2]

Hosta virus X
A "Moonlight" breed Hosta infected with Hosta virus X
Virus classification
(unranked): Virus
Realm: Riboviria
Kingdom: Orthornavirae
Phylum: Kitrinoviricota
Class: Alsuviricetes
Order: Tymovirales
Family: Alphaflexiviridae
Genus: Potexvirus
Species:
Hosta virus X

Emergence

Hosta virus X began showing up in nurseries in the late 1990's and early 2000's. People bought the infected hostas, believing that they were new breeds of the plant.[2][3] Hosta breeds such as "Break Dance," "Eternal Father," "Leopard Frog," "Blue Freckles," and "Lunacy" were not actual breeds, but instead were Hostas infected with Hosta virus X that were mistakenly believed to be new breeds.[2][4][5][6][7][8] Some of the Hostas infected with the virus were taken to Europe, where they were grown.[2]

Eventually, the virus reached the Hosta wholesale stock in the Netherlands, the Hostas were then sold to other wholesale stocks around the world, and caused the virus to spread quickly.[2]

Signs and symptoms

Hosta virus X does not kill the plants infected, but Hostas that have been infected do show a variety of other symptoms,[9] such as:

  • Ink-bleed, which makes the plant look discolored in certain spots, and this effect is generally centered on a vein. An example of this is shown in the photo in this article.[10]
  • Desiccation or Collapsed tissue, which can be signs of heavier infection, makes the plant look as if it is dried out.[10]
  • Mottling, which makes the plant appear blotchy. This is not always a symptom of HVX, and could be from another virus, but it should always treated as an infected plant regardless.[10]

Control

Once a Hosta plant is infected, it will be infected for the rest of its life. Any plant suspected of being infected should be burned if it is legal to do so. If it is not, then it should tossed in the garbage, but infected Hosta plants should never be composted. If any plant in a batch shows symptoms, the entire batch should be considered infected and be destroyed. Once a plant has been removed, the spot occupied by the Hosta should be left empty for a long time to prevent the spread of the virus to a plant that replaces it.[11]

The virus primarily spreads through infected sap, so cutting multiple plants with the same tool can spread the virus.[9][11]

gollark: You may mock me now, but this is the future of international trade.
gollark: For example, if the US government looks bad because unemployment is up 10 million, they can just buy 10 million employment from, say, Saudi Arabia, which has unelected leaders who don't really care, and their unemployment looks fine!
gollark: It makes sense, if you think about it. Some countries have lots of money and want to optimize for good-looking statistics. Some need money and don't really care what their unemployment figure is.
gollark: That would be unethical.
gollark: But nobody is actually forced to work anywhere else, that would be unethical.

References
  1. Baker, Carlye (October 2013). "Hosta Virus X, a Potexvirus" (PDF). Plant Pathology Circular No. 410. Retrieved 2020-05-07 – via Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry.
  2. "Hosta Virus X - The History of the Epidemic". perennialnursery.com. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  3. "My Hosta Sports". choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  4. "Hosta Photo Library". hostalibrary.org. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  5. "Hosta Photo Library". hostalibrary.org. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  6. "Hosta Photo Library". hostalibrary.org. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  7. "Hosta Photo Library". hostalibrary.org. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  8. "Hosta Photo Library". hostalibrary.org. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  9. "Hosta Virus X". hostalibrary.org. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  10. "Hosta Virus X Symptoms". hostalibrary.org. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  11. "Hosta Virus X". Wisconsin Horticulture. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
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