My mini virus test results
Today I received a small kit of 5 Agdia immuno test strips and the little pouches. The tests were for Cymbidium mosaic virus and Odontoglossum ringspot virus. I didn't want to spend hundreds testing all my orchids and just had a couple that troubled me.
A lot of my Miltoniopsis and Oncids get sort of spotty or streaky leaves. I don't know why as many grow well and bloom well. The milts are not the most robust but I am sure I just don't have the culture perfected yet. So I did one token Miltoniopsis with a typical spotty/streaky leaf and the results were negative. I am relieved as many of mine are like that and they don't share water etc. so how could they all be virused.
4 of the 5 tests were negative and only the Cattleya I really suspected to be virused came back positive for both viruses! It is already in the garbage, pot and all. Attached are some pics of it and the test strip. It was growing two new growths and lots of roots but lots of growths had died, even previous new ones before they got more than a few inches tall. The bottom line on the test strip is CymMV and the next one is ORSV and the top line is the control line. I realize plants could have other viruses, but these seem to be the most common and most dreaded in orchid growing.
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