Rose Rosette Disease
Rose Rosette Disease is a devastating plant disorder that affects roses, causing extensive damage and even death. According to Texas A&M, “researchers have suspected that mite damage, phytoplasma, or a virus causes rose rosette disease.”
Rose Rosette Disease is a condition that affects rose plants, causing significant damage to their growth and overall health. Symptoms can vary depending on rose types and cultivars. This disease leads to the formation of symptoms that include stunted and distorted growth of leaves, stems, and flowers. The leaves may exhibit abnormal coloration, such as yellowing or mottling, and develop disfigured patterns. Infected rose plants will get a dramatic increase of thorns on affected stems, and affected areas will stay a red color. You may observe rapid elongation and thickening of shoots and stems. Infected plants can also experience a decline in vigor and weakened immunity, making them more susceptible to other infections and environmental stressors, and can even lead to death.
According to Texas A&M “there is no effective way to treat a virus on an infected plant because the virus may be systemic (spread throughout the plant) and not a localized infection. When symptoms occur on only part of the plant, the disease may be localized, or it may be systemic but asymptomatic on other parts of the plant. Pruning the infected part may eliminate the pathogen if the infection is localized, but, if systemic, the infection will persist. Mites carrying the virus can continue feeding on all parts of the rose and carry the virus to uninfected rose tissues. Sometimes rose rosette disease does not kill the rose but stunts it. Although it may recover on its own, it is highly unlikely, and the infected rose can serve as a virus reservoir. Theoretically, eriophyid mites can transmit the virus from a diseased plant to other roses.”
Based on the current information about the disease and its presumed vector, according to Texas A&M the best management practices are “remove confirmed and/or symptomatic plants quickly, treat nearby plants with miticide to reduce the probability of disease transmission by eriophyid mites. But, this will not stop the virus if it is already in the plant. You can monitor symptoms weekly and act quickly when and if symptoms occur. If you desire to replant with roses, remove all diseased plant roots from the soil before replanting in the same area. This is a prudent precaution even though it is unlikely the virus spreads this way.”
According to https://roserosette.org/ there have been 869 reports of Rose Rosette Disease in Texas alone.
If you need help identifying Rose Rosette Disease, Arbor Source Tree Experts can assist. We will take all of the worry out of keeping your trees and shrubs healthy and beautiful year round. Visit us at www.ArborSource.net to request a visit from our ISA Certified Arborist or call (832) 671-0331.
