Irises and viruses

[Jupiter]

I'm seeking some advice. I picked up this unguicularis cv. called blue stripe earlier this year and it has come into flower now. The trouble is the attractive striping on the flowers look likely to be caused by a virus. I'm not certain of this but people like John Grimshaw and Trevor Nottle agree with me. The question is, what is this virus and how likely is it to make the jump to my oncos, junos and retics and other rare gems I grow? It's making me really nervous to be honest. There are quite a lot of aphids around at the moment due to the mild conditions and they are attracted to irises like bears to honey. It's quite likely that it is non-transmissible and will stay put, but I just can't take the risk. I'm thinking I should dig the damn thing up and give it to a friend ... except that I quite like it.

Any comments?

[Steve Garvie]

Without lab testing it's difficult to tell what it truly is but Iris Mosaic Virus has to be high up on the list of possibilities. It's effects vary within the genus -some species/cultivars carry it without much in the way of problems but others such as Oncos can be badly affected. I would tie it to a stake and burn it .......( a tradition around these parts!).   

Check the last paragraph of the AGS encyclopaedia entry on I. unguicularis:  http://encyclopaedia.alpinegardensociety.net/plants/Iris/unguicularis

[Maggi Young]

Yes, it is pretty!  And yes, I would get rid of it, sharpish. I know plenty people say that viruses are everywhere  (which, of course, they are!) but  the risk of infecting a collection of plants that one has spent time and effort building up is too great to take in my book. There are more than enough things around that can happen and affect our plants out of the blue without taking this sort of risk by an introduction of a doubtful plant.   

[Jupiter]

Thanks Maggi, that settles it then. I'm digging it up tomorrow and I'll give it to a friend who's less fussy than I am.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hahahahahaha!
I just visited a friend and told her that her clump of this Iris looked virused. She said it is a stable form called 'Mary Barnard' (however it isn't that variety but one called 'Variegata'). I was just teasing her as it has been in the trade for many years in Victoria. I don't like the look of it particularly so I don't grow it. If the variegation is caused by virus it really isn't worth growing anywhere near susceptible iris
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

The damn thing is in a bag and I'm considering who to gift it to. I just couldn't sleep with it only meters away from my oncos. 

[arilnut]

Jamus BURN it. Did you try  my test?

John

[Jupiter]

What's your test John?

[arilnut]

I sent you a PM

John