IPM : Reports on Plant Diseases : Rose Rosette Disease

Reports on Plant Diseases
RPD No. 666 - Rose Rosette Disease	October 1999

[ Symptoms ] [ Disease Cycle ] [ Control ]

The causal agent of rose rosette disease (RRD), also known as witches' broom of roses (Rosa species), is unknown, although double-stranded RNAs have been associated with diseased plants. RRD is a fatal disease of multiflora rose (R. Multiflora), designated a noxious weed in several states. It occasionally infects numerous species, hybrids and cultivars of ornamental and garden roses, grown outdoors and in greenhouses, including climbers, hybrid teas, floribundas, miniatures, and a number of antique or "old fashioned" roses. Roses are the only plant known to be susceptible to RRD. The majority of multiflora roses in the Midwest and eastern United States are expected to become infected and killed by RRD in the next 10 to 20 years. The disease was first reported in 1941 in Manitoba, Canada, Wyoming, northeastern California, and Nebraska. RRD is now endemic in much of the Midwest, where multiflora rose hedges are common; was first reported in Illinois in 1986; and is spreading naturally in the eastern United States.

Figure 1. Bunchy cluster (witches' broom); dwarfed and distorted leaves on garden rose

RRD is transmitted from plant to plant by an extremely small eriophyid mite (Phyllocoptes fructiplilus), which inhabits the shoot tips and leaf petal bases of roses. This mite introduces the causal agent of RRD into a rose as it feeds. The 4-legged mite is only about 200 microns long and 50 microns wide – small enough so 20 could lie side-by-side on a pinhead. The causal agent is also transmitted through grafting but apparently not through multiflora rose seed. Graft transmission tests have shown that the causal agent resides in the roots of multiflora rose, as well as other plant parts.

Symptoms

On multiflora rose the first symptoms appear 17 to 90 days or more after the mites have inoculated the plant. The majority of new infections appear in July and August. A brighter red to dark red mosaic pattern forms on the new leaves. The pattern follows the leaf veins or may appear as spots and blotches. The easily seen mosaic pattern is diagnostic of RRD infection. Thirty to 90 days after the mites have transmitted the causal agent, an infected plant begins to produce numerous lateral shoots that grow in different directions. These shoots are commonly bright red and often are much larger in diameter than the canes from which they grew. A proliferation of these shoots produces a witches' broom symptom.
The red shoots of infected plants are succulent, and more susceptible to late frost damage than the normal healthy foliage of multiflora rose. A variety of other symptoms can be seen in late May and early June including rapid stem elongation followed by breaking of axillary buds which results in numerous red lateral shoots and thick, bunchy clusters of wrinkled, reddish green leaves which are distorted and much reduced in size (Figure 1). The leaf clusters often serve as winter protection for the mite vector. Infected canes have an abnormally high number of thorns.

Figure 2. Multiflora rose hedge killed by RRD. Note elongated lateral stems growing in different directions.

The causal agent of rose rosette spreads from infected canes into the roots and from there to all the canes on a plant. Some canes produce only sparse red and yellow foliage; others die and turn brown. Under drought conditions, some diseased tips produce firmer foliage and yellowish leaf tips in addition to being a bright pink. About 10 to 15 percent of infected plants show a "regression" or loss of symptoms for one or more months but the symptoms always reappear. The entire multiflora rose plant, including the root system, dies an average of 22 months after becoming infected (Figure 2).

On garden roses, the symptoms are usually less severe than on multiflora rose, but some cultivars are killed by the disease. In some ornamental roses the symptoms appear to be transient and the plants "recover"; while other plants, weakened by RRD, die with another disease.

Rapid stem elongation is an early symptom of RRD in garden roses (Figure 3). Later, certain canes become greatly thickened, almost "furry" with thorns, and are slow to mature. Such shoots usually die back in late fall. Many short, deformed shoots will form, often with red blotches and streaks, an increased number of buds, and tiny misshapen leaves (Figure 4). Flower parts are distorted, abortive, leaflike, and sterile on infected stems although other parts of the plant may appear completely healthy and produce normal flowers and fruit. Infected plants commonly die within one to two years as symptoms eventually affect all canes.

Figure 3. Rose Rosette Disease - infected garden rose - stems growing in different directions.

Disease Cycle

At present there is no practical control for this disease. Rose plants showing symptoms of RRD should be promptly dug up and destroyed when the disease is first noticed. It is strongly suggested that multiflora and garden roses be separated as far as possible from each other. Multiflora rose hedges should be destroyed whenever possible. (Garden roses infected with other viral diseases would not necessarily have to be removed). Control of the mites that transmit RRD is probably not practical. Short-term mite control to protect healthy plants, while infected plants are being destroyed, can be accomplished with weekly spraying of dicofol (Kelthane), dienochlor (Pentact), or fenbutatin-oxide (Vendex). There is some evidence to suggest that mites transmit the disease between plants during May and June, making this time period the most important for mite control. However, as suggested above, destroying diseased plants is a more practical solution to control of RRD.

Figure 4. Short, deformed shoots, increased number of buds, numerous tiny, misshapen leaves - other symptoms of rose rosette on garden roses.

Control

Although the mites can be found on a number of rose species over much of the United States, large populations develop on multiflora rose infected with RRD. Some mites climb to the edges of young leaves, become airborne, and may drift for several miles like dust particles. Mites from diseased plants may initiate a new infection when they land and feed on succulent, rapidly growing tissue of another multiflora or garden rose. Spread of the causal agent of RRD within garden roses is generally minor, it has caused considerable losses in a few urban areas (including Kansas City, Topeka, St. Joseph and Springfield, Missouri) several miles or more from the nearest multiflora rose hedge. The complete disease cycle is unknown at present. For example, why is the disease so devastating to multiflora rose with generally minimal spread within garden roses? Research is needed to characterize the causal agent, to develop a DNA probe for detection of the causal agent, to define the conditions favoring development and spread of the disease, to study aspects of mite biology, including how transmission occurs, and what factors determine mite populations. Apparently the mites lose much of their capacity to transmit the causal agent of RRD after 10 days. Transmission by mites is often erratic and adversely affected by drought or plant stress or both.

For further information concerning diseases of woody ornamentals, contact Nancy R. Pataky, Extension Specialist and Director of the Plant Disease Clinic, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.


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Reports on Plant Diseases

RPD No. 666 - Rose Rosette Disease

October 1999

Symptoms

Disease Cycle

Control