virus on lower leaves of Phalanopsis?

[ladyslipper]

Hi guys, this is going to be tough but I need help with a potential issue with a NOID phal I bought months ago. In the last two weeks, I have noticed a brown mark on two of the lower leaves of a phal of mine, the leaf tissue is brown and pitted in localized areas on two leaves. There is no yellow stripping on the leaf and I don't have any concrete reason to think I have a virus, but I am really suspicious that it is a virus. I have "googled" for pictures on the net and this forum, but haven't found any pictures close enough. Any thoughts? My buddy at Paramount Orchids suggested isolating the plant for a long time to see if it was a virus, but I don't have any room for that as my grow area is really, really, really small. This plant has a sentimental value to me as it is a rescue from one of the Home Depots here but I guess if I have to toss it or risk the other plants, I will.

If you can direct me to some pictures of (perhaps) common virus' then that will give me a clue, otherwise, I think I will toss it.

Regards, mary

[Lagoon]

Hi Mary,

It may or may not be a virus, but you can't really know for sure -- unless you have it tested. We would only be guessing.
It could be a fungus. Why don't you post up a photo and let some of us have a go at it

[OrchidTess]

Can you post a pic of the leaf in question?? It would be most helpful.

[ladyslipper]

Hi guys, a photo would be most beneficial for sure, but I can't find the cables for my camera. I have someone from my orchid club coming by to take a picture of my grow area and maybe she can take a picture then I can post it. It is possible, though I may have tossed (okay murdered in cold blood) the plant in the interest of the collection.

If anyone can direct me to a website that has photos of virus' then that can at least help me narrow it down a bit.

regards, mary

[Gin]

The lower leaves on Phals. will get pretty raunchy looking before the lower leaves die off which is normal for them to do . Just a thought . Gin

[cb977]

http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/pdf_pubs/614.pdf

Kultana Orchids