In any Integrated Pest Management program, proper identification of the problem is Step 1. Rose diseases are no different. They generally fall into one of three categories - bacterial, viral or fungal. Bacterial Diseases Infection can occur in most any garden. The pathogen enters through wounds to the plant caused by improper and unsanitary pruning, grafting, mechanical injury during cultivation, or failure to prune away broken stems and roots during transplanting.
Bacteria can survive in the soil for at least two years.
Besides spreading via infected pruning equipment, insects and water are also known vectors. These galls begin with tumor-like cell growth at or just below the soil s surface, near the base of the plant and commonly on bud unions. Following gall formation, shrub growth is stunted, foliage is sparse, and bloom production is reduced. Root Gall - Like Crown Gall above, but damage is confined to roots. Commonly caused by improper root pruning during transplant.