2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Rose rosette disease, caused by Rose Rosette Virus, is a lethal disease of roses that has killed thousands of roses in the eastern U.S. The virus is vectored by the eriophyid mite, Phyllocoptes fructiphilus. The only known remedy for this disease is to destroy symptomatic plants. We evaluated cultural and chemical control strategies to reduce the impact of this disease. Pruning to remove symptomatic canes at first detection of symptoms was ineffective for preventing other canes from becoming symptomatic on test plants. The use of Miscanthus sinensis as a green barrier, reduced incidence of rose rosette disease in test plots although once the disease became established in test plots, the rate of disease progression was similar to that observed in plots without barriers. Plants sprayed at 14 day intervals with Akari, Forbid, Kontos or Talstar did not develop symptoms whereas all control plants (sprayed with water) became symptomatic for the disease. Spray treatments of Avid+horticultural oil and Sevin were ineffective. The use of miticides for reducing the impact of rose rosette is promising. More research is needed to determine when spraying should be initiated, how many sprays are needed, if spray intervals can be increased to reduce the amount of pesticide used and if spray intervals are the same for all miticides.