Virus Eradication in a Selected Clone of Dendrobium Jaq-Hawaii ‘Uniwai Pearl’

Viral infection poses one of the greatest threats to orchid health. Cymbidium mosac virus (CymMV) is the most prevalent virus on Dendrobium orchids worldwide. A variety of symptoms including distorted petals and necrotic streaks and spots on flowers and foliage, can reduce the marketability of both cutflowers and potted plants.

Dendrobium Jaq-Hawaii ‘Uniwai Pearl’, also known at ‘UH 306’, is a widely grown, high-yielding, long spray, white, amphidiploid cultivar grown from seed. Populations of plants are uniform for most characteristics, but superior selections can be made. In a trial of 990 plants the average yield for a 12-month period was 26.5 sprays per plant, with one exceptional individual yielding 64 sprays. Unfortunately, this plant was infected with CymMV. The plant was cultured and tissues were treated in virto with antiviral compounds Ribavirin at 9.8 μL per 125 ml flask or Dithiouracil at 29 μL per 125 ml flask. Flasks were placed on a rotary shaker at 125 rpm, under 40 Watt Sylvania lights for 24 h at 25° C. One year later tissues from treated plants were assayed using Agdia ImmunoStrip® technology and several virus-free plants were identified.