Virus infected phalaenopsis ?

[ABC Impatiens]

Hello

I am new to orchids, and wonder if this phalaenopsis I purchased some days ago are virus infected.

There are no signs of physical damage and there is no insects on the flowers.
Even the new buds have the same pattern.

What do you think?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It looks like it was bred to look that way.

If in doubt, there are viral test kits out there.

[jkofferdahl]

I think that's what the flower is supposed to look like. With a virus I'd expect to see more irregularity and less symetry.

[cb977]

I agree

Although viruses do exist, they aren't very common.

[Zoi2]

That's a really cool phal, does it have a name?
Joann

[Undergrounder]

I've never heard of virus symptoms resulting in ragged-edged petals, only virus symptoms resulting in colour-break in the petals. The ragged edges are probably just a result of poor selection or aneuploid breeding.

[Gin]

I like it, very pretty and different . I would not worry about it being a virus no tie dye color break in the bloom they are very uniform in color and shape . Gin

[Pandelis]

I like it. Looks healthy and different. Maybe a new trend in phal breeding is starting ...

[Fini Shell]

The symptoms that are caused by viruses are variable and difficult to pinpoint. Sometimes, infected plants are asymptomatic, but still experience a reduction in vigor. Common symptoms on leaves of most orchid genera are irregular chlorotic or necrotic lesions of various sizes. Yellow stripes may also occur.

[goodgollymissmolly]

I agree with everyone else that the uneven petal edges are not a virus (but highly unusual).

However this statement:

"Although viruses do exist, they aren't very common."

is really wrong. I suggest you buy some Agdia test strips and test your collection. You'll find that far eastern mericlones, especially Phals for our big box stores, are essentially 100% virused. You'll also find that most of your collection regardless of the source is virused.

The reason that this correction is important is that by assuming your plants are virus free, you continue to contaminate the unvirused ones. You will have no trouble confirming that 50% or more of your plants from popular genera are virused and that if you have not practiced proper hygiene that you contaminated the others. This is far from a trivial subject. The situation was bad anyway, but the importation of throw away mericlones has made it far worse and no one really cares much or bothers to learn about it.