Key Features
- Color break
- Feathering of color
- Loss of vigor
Symptoms
Hosta virus X is a common disease that is capable of infecting most hosta. With hundreds of varieties of hosta, symptoms are variable, but commonly include color break and "ink-bleeding" or feathering of colors between the veins in an abnormal and irregular fashion. Leaves may be puckered or quilted. Laboratory tests to confirm whether a hosta is infected with HVX is the only way to conclusively determine if HVX is causing the disease.
Biology
The virus is spread from sap from an infected plant being mechanically transferred to another plant by contaminated tools or hands. This disease is primarily spread through clonal propagation and the division of infected plants.
Management Recommendations
Unlike other viruses (tobacco mosaic, tobacco rattle, cucumber mosaic, tomato spotted wilt, etc.) this disease does not have any known vectors, nor does this virus infect other plants. Thus, infected plants are only a threat to other hosta-Infected plants have the potential to spread the disease to other hosta and should be destroyed. However, many growers choose to "live with it".
Effective Pesticides
Pesticides are neither available nor recommended for managing this disease.
Resources
- Hosta Virus X
- Not satisfied with ID? Contact the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab
- Sign Up for the Purdue Landscape Report
