Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: Chris Parsons on March 17, 2018, 05:31:23 PM
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Hello all,
I was inspecting my clump of Galanthus ‘Big Eyes’ recently, and noticed a few bulbs in the clump have stripy ovaries. This has coincided with my Galanthus elwesii monostictus becoming virused (thankfully not expensive, it was acquired from a pack of elwesii from a supermarket). All these bulbs were clean until roughly around the time Galanthus plicatus ‘Augustus’ was added to my collection (which I am now thinking I should keep well separated from other Galanthus). The virus doesn’t noticeably curb the bulbs vigour; Galanthus ‘Big Eyes’ is a very vigorous cultivar and I am sure it will live with the virus. I’m just alarmed at how fast it is spreading; I think I will divide my ‘Big Eyes’ (which is a large clump) this year, and discard the virused bulbs.
I was wondering what other people’s advice would be?
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Here are some photos...
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When virus is mentioned for some plants, there is a chorus of "don't panic , don't over-react - that form has been known to be virussed for years..." I'm afraid that is not my view - while some forms of snowdrops and other plants may well have been able to survive with a virus over many years, even decades, the worrying fact is that if more delicate plants become infected they may soon die out altogether. For that reason I will get rid of any infected plants out of the garden completely.
We were nearly caught out some years ago with an Iris which was "supposed" to be okay in spite of virus and very soon the whole collection of Iris were dropping like flies - we burned the lot. Broke my heart - but it was better than risking the spread to other collections. If we suspect that damage to a plant MAY be due to weather rather than virus it will be quarantined to keep an eye on for awhile - but for the most part, any sick plants are humanely euthanised.
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It has been said that the streaking in the leaves of these plants is not the same as that in the leaves/ovaries of 'Augustus' and I agree. It just seems strange that these signs of virus have appeared since that entered my collection. The elwesii showed no signs of virus two years ago! I'm wondering if I should live without 'Augustus' altogether...
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I have had quite a bad problem with virus this year. All the snowdrops in a patch of about 1 square meter were affected, with another area showing a few instances amongst mostly healthy drops. Fortunately the 'drops in the bad patch were "ordinary". It is possible that there is some other cause to the virus-like symptoms, mostly I did not see anything until after the cold weather we had in early March. But I don't want to take the risk so I have disposed of the bulbs with symptoms and quarantined any that were in close proximity.
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Ditto Alan.
I too noticed the virus symptoms seemed to increase following the cold spell. Perhaps the stress induced to the plant from the cold spell is making the striping more visible. How soon do people think it is safe to replant in an area after infected bulbs have been removed?
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Interesting. I noticed a group of G.plicatus ‘Bill Clark’ (is there an ‘e’?) with yellow patches on the leaves yesterday. Under the snow now.
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Interesting. I noticed a group of G.plicatus ‘Bill Clark’ (is there an ‘e’?) with yellow patches on the leaves yesterday. Under the snow now.
When some of the authors of "Snowdrops, a monograph of cultivated Galanthus" reviewed "A gardeners guide to snowdrops" by Freda Cox they were critical of the number of errors they found. However the Monograph is not itself completely free from errors and one of these is the misspelling of the name "Bill Clark" which is correctly spelled without an 'e'.
'Yellow' snowdrops like Bill Clark and also all the Sandersii types tend to have leaves that are paler and more yellow than a 'normal' snowdrop. What, to my mind, characterises a virus is stripes on the leaves that run along the veins, so along the length of the leaf but often just for areas, not the full length. However I have no past experience with viruses so there could be other signs that I am missing.
In the cold weather snowdrop leaves went flaccid as their sap was drawn back into the bulb. I wonder if this stress made virus symptoms more visible once the leaves recovered? Of course the other possibility is that it caused stress that mimics the symptoms of a virus but if so, why only in certain parts of my garden?
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However the Monograph is not itself completely free from errors and one of these is the misspelling of the name "Bill Clark" which is correctly spelled without an 'e'.
Just had to have a quick look at the database after that...phew, all correct.
Re the virus, I always think back to what I was told several years ago, and that is that many snowdrops in the latter part of the season do show symptoms of 'late season virus' and it is a form of stress. So sensible to put the plants in a 'hospital bed' away from the others to keep an eye on them. Perhaps a good liquid seaweed feed might alleviate the signs and put your mind to rest?
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So I might have early onset late season stress??? I'll try to "hospitalise" any new snowdrops I find showing symptoms.
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Possibly as a result, as you said, of weather conditions. Always wise to err on the side of caution though isn't it.
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If one does decide to quarantine rather than destroy a sick snowdrop, what separation of the hospital bed from the other 'drops would be recommended? I had one badly smitten, and an adjacent one that simply did not come up; so I am thinking of moving the neighbours of those two to a quarantine bed.
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I found some G. elwesii plants with yellowish striped leaves, after strong frosts this symtomes are clearer to see. I think, this is a virus and selected this plants!
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If one does decide to quarantine rather than destroy a sick snowdrop, what separation of the hospital bed from the other 'drops would be recommended? I had one badly smitten, and an adjacent one that simply did not come up; so I am thinking of moving the neighbours of those two to a quarantine bed.
Common sense says as far away as possible Anthony, but if they are a 'common' cheapish and easily obtained snowdrop I would be inclined to burn them.
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I found some G. elwesii plants with yellowish striped leaves, after strong frosts this symtomes are clearer to see. I think, this is a virus and selected this plants!
Yes it certainly looks well virused Harald-Alex, it obviously had virus to start with and the stress of the weather has increased the signs :(
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Not being a real galanthrophile nor have any knowledge of virus, is this a sign of said illness? Bought as Augustus.
TIA.
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Yes it certainly looks well virused Harald-Alex, it obviously had virus to start with and the stress of the weather has increased the signs :(
thank You, Brian, I have removed this plants. It is better to select hard, that the virus has no change, to spead!
All the thousands other snowdrops are green or bluegreen, as usual! Greetings from East-Germany - Harald
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[attach=1][attach=2] As a Galanthus newbie, I’d appreciate some expert advice on whether this is virus-related. First image is G. South Hayes, with very evident leaf folding but otherwise flowered fine.
The second is G. Primrose Warburg, with color break on the leaves. Again it flowered ok.
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I would be pretty certain your 'Primrose Warburg' has a virus. I had several snowdrops in a small area develop similar discolouration so it is certainly infectious. I disposed of all but one which I moved to a very isolated area. it looks dreadfully sick this year (which is two years later).
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When I visited Avon Bulbs last year they indicated that leaf folding was indicative of a virus. This was new to me and I have never seen this documented as a virus symptom but Avon Bulbs know their snowdrops.
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Thank you Alan, I suppose I will, reluctantly, destroy G. Primrose Warburg but will likely quarantine South Hayes to assess again next year.
By the way, I purchased both as dormant bulbs last August. Perhaps the lesson is only ever purchase ‘in the green’?
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I was surprised to learn this year that South Hayes is known for this, what is considered to be, virus induced leaf deformity. I’ve been looking at South Hayes (including my own) all season and nearly all of them have it.
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Good morning,
I need advice regarding the below yellow spotting on a plant that I presume is fungal rather than viral.
What is the cause and is there a remedy rather than destroying the affected plant, and are there preventable measures in the future.
Regards, Malcolm
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Yes, David, all 'South Hayes' I know of have this leaf deformity and some other green-marked have it, too (eg. 'Wol Staines'). However I do not think it affects their growth or is very infectious.
Malcolm: I think those spots are nothing to worry about. Water them with mycorrhiza (Trichoderma harzianum for example) and your plant will be fine next year.
I have had a problem with virus on 'Madelaine' this year and I am pretty certain that the original culprit was a small narcissus, that showed extremely mottled virused leaves. All removed and put in the rubbish bin... :-( Have any of you heard of virus spreading from Narcissus to Galanthus?
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Malcolm: I think those spots are nothing to worry about. Water them with mycorrhiza (Trichoderma harzianum for example) and your plant will be fine next year.
Thank you Anne, I have bought some TNC TricorrP5 from The Nutrient Company for the affected plant. I do not want to loose it so am now hopeful with your reply.
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There are some viruses which can affect Galanthus species. We are currently researching Galanthus viruses in Hungary both in gardens and in nature. What we see is that some viruses do not show symptoms at all. If you want to throw a plant away, please don't we welcome any additions to our research.
I would recommend not planting Galanthus near daffodils, as daffodils are often infected with multiple virus species.