page_title: List of pests and diseases of roses
section_title: Phytoplasma, viruses and viruslike diseases
hierarchical_section_title: List of pests and diseases of roses / Diseases / Phytoplasma, viruses and viruslike diseases
caption_attribution_description: English: Authors own specimen
context_page_description: Roses are susceptible to a number of pests, diseases and disorders. Many of the problems affecting roses are seasonal and climatic. Some varieties of roses are naturally more resistant or immune than others to certain pests and diseases. Cultivation requirements of individual rose species and cultivars, when observed, often assist in the prevention of pests, diseases and disorders.
context_section_description: (And graft-transmissible pathogens [GTP])
  Rose mosaic – This mosaic virus disease is caused by a complex of viruses and is characterised by yellow patterns on the leaves. The patterns vary considerably, ranging between all-over fine blotches to patterns of lines in waves. The patterns may appear on a few or many leaves. Plants are infected by this virus at propagation using infected plant material.
  Rose wilt – Rose wilt is a complex of viruses and is referred to as "dieback" in some areas. The disease can be spread by vectors such as aphids. Symptoms are variable and range from stunted growth to curled young leaves. The soft tissue symptoms are more evident in spring and new leaves will reflex towards their own petioles. The affected leaves are brittle and easily fall from the plant. Fully formed leaves will appear to wilt as if the plant were water stressed.
  Rose rosette disease - This disease is caused by a relatively recently described virus, Rose rosette emaravirus, that is transmitted by an eriophyid, rose leaf curl mite (Phyllocoptes fructiphilus), which inhabits the shoot tips and leaf petal bases of roses, as well as by grafting but not by seed or many other common vectors. Rose rosette was initially mistaken for a phytoplasma disease; however, heat and tetracycline treatments did not cure the disease showing that a phytoplasma is not the causal agent. Also called witches' broom of roses, it is fatal (average lifespan after infection 22 months) in the shrub Rosa multiflora, commonly found wild or as hedges (and introduced to North America, where it is considered an invasive species in some places).  It can also infect other rose species, such as garden rose climbers, miniatures, hybrid teas, floribundas, and antique varieties and is capable of killing these as well.  Roses are the only plants known to be susceptible.  Symptoms include mosaic pattern on the leaves, malformed leaves and flowers, elongated shoots that are often red, and sometimes thorn proliferation. The distorted growth may be mistaken for herbicide damage.  There is no treatment for the disease, and control is limited to controlling the vector and destroying infected plants. It is reported that the causal agent does not survive in the soil, but can survive in root fragments. (See also Phyllody.)
caption: Rose mosaic virus on R. "Queen Elizabeth"
exif: {"Image Make": "EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY", "Image Model": "KODAK EASYSHARE CX7300 DIGITAL CAMERA", "Image Software": "Version 1.0000", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Co-sited", "Image ExifOffset": "150", "EXIF ExposureTime": "16667/1000000", "EXIF FNumber": "9/2", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "140", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0220", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2007:03:25 11:55:19", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2007:03:25 11:55:19", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF CompressedBitsPerPixel": "44/25", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "59/10", "EXIF ApertureValue": "433/100", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "433/100", "EXIF MeteringMode": "CenterWeightedAverage", "EXIF Flash": "Flash fired, auto mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "59/10", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "2080", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "1368", "EXIF ExposureIndex": "140", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF FileSource": "Digital Camera", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF DigitalZoomRatio": "0", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "37", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF GainControl": "None", "EXIF Contrast": "Normal", "EXIF Saturation": "Normal", "EXIF Sharpness": "Normal", "EXIF SubjectDistanceRange": "0"}