What is Rose Mosaic Virus – and how serious a problem is it?
A. Rose Mosaic Virus is a systemic infection of rose plants spread by a complex of viruses almost entirely through propagation by “bud-grafting”. If a bud-eye of a “clean” variety is inserted into a rootstock that is virus-infected, the resulting plant will be afflicted with Rose Mosaic. Own Root roses have a tremendous advantage in that they avoid this possibility of viral infection being transmitted through an understock…. However, it is important to remember that an INFECTED rose reproduced by ANY propagation technique will carry the virus – whether by budding, cuttings, layers, root runners etc. Only the process of growing rose seeds into young plants can short-circuit the transmission of viruses – but then you merely have a new seedling, not the desired variety. The physical manifestations of Rose Mosaic Virus can vary widely: Some varieties might show only minor faint markings (like a pale watermark, zigzag, or oakleaf pattern) mostly on a plant’s lower leaflets during late sum
