Abstract
Virus diseases of orchids came into prominence in the early 1960s. The two most prominent viruses found in orchids are Cymbidium mosaic (CMV) and Odontoglossum ringspot (ORV). The number of orchids infected by these viruses is significant and will continue to increase until commercial clone laboratories, commercial growers, and hobbyist collectors take the necessary means to control and stop the spread of them. Plants from the commercial clone laboratories are showing a high percentage of plants infected with these two viruses. This is an indication that the stock plants from these laboratories were not checked for viruses or were brought into the laboratories as contaminates. Commercial nurseries and clone laboratories country of origin that have been surveyed to date are Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Holland, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, and Venezuela. Leaf samples were taken from liners, single and multiple flowering plants and analyzed for viruses by Agdia Laboratory (Elkhart, Indiana), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Department of Plant Industry (Gainesville, Florida) and/ or University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center (Homestead, Florida). A complete virus scan was run on all leaf samples. Results indicate that CMV and ORV are a serious problem in orchids since a high percentage of the samples were found to be infected with these viruses.
