Byakuro virus disease is a major enemy of orchids

What is "Byakuro"? Actually, the name "Byakuro" is a loanword, and it is a viral disease. According to some sources,orchidsthis disease originated in Japan, and later spread to Taiwan, China. In recent years, due to increased internationalorchidexchanges, virus-carryingorchidshave also been introduced into mainland China. Quite a few people have insufficient understanding of the harmfulness of this disease, or do not know about it at all, so that in some areas where orchid growing is relatively developed, a considerable number of orchid nurseries have had their orchids infected with the "Byakuro" virus. Due to the spread of "Byakuro", diseased orchids fill entire nurseries, a sight too dreadful to behold. What is even more serious is that these diseased orchids are dumped on the market in large quantities. According to observation, the people who show interest are roughly of the following kinds: first, newcomers to the orchid world, who simply do not recognize that these are diseased orchids; second, some people who do not understand the harmfulness of this disease and treat it as an ordinary orchid disease, firmly believing that they can solve it themselves, and who, tempted by beautiful striped variegation and low prices, resolutely take the risk and buy; third, some unscrupulous and disreputable orchid dealers who, in order to make money, buy diseased orchids at low prices and take them to areas with newly emergingorchid growingenthusiasm, selling them at high prices to those newly learningorchid growing; or they dress up the diseased orchids in some way, for example by peeling off the diseased new shoots, or cutting off the diseased leaves, or smearing on mud and so on to deceive the eyes and ears oforchid growers; what is even worse, they claim that the diseased spots are the beginning of "variegation emergence" and that the next generation will surely produce highly variegated plants, and so on, deliberately deceiving people. Some people compare the "Byakuro" disease to orchidFloral"AIDS". Although this comparison is not entirely appropriate, it is very vivid. Japan and Taiwan, China, are relatively advanced in modern orchid growing, but for the "Byakuro" viral disease, no effective control drug or method has been found to this day. "Byakuro" is an orchid disease with very strong infectivity. Everyone can think about it: a few years ago, in mainland China, it was very rare to see orchids with the "Byakuro" disease; but now, the market is flooded with large quantities of such diseased orchids. The reason is that in recent years a large number of beautifully striped variegated orchids, flower-type orchids, and dwarf orchids have flowed in from overseas, and a considerable portion of them were infected with the "Byakuro" virus, causing many of our traditional varieties such as "Golden Beak", "Silver Edge", "Qihei", "Baimo" and many others to be infected with this virus. If we do not adequately recognize the seriousness of this disease, do not publicize and resist it, and let it run rampant and spread its poison everywhere, it will cause enormous harm to the development of orchid growing. All orchid growers with a conscience should not, for the sake of money, take diseased orchids to harm others, and even more should not sell diseased orchids to orchid dealers to deceive and harm ignorant people. The symptoms of "Byakuro" are mainly manifested on orchidFloralleaves. On the orchid leaves there are irregular patches of light yellow diseased spots. Their most prominent feature is: in the diseased areas, whether on the front or the back of the leaf, the cuticle is reduced, the chlorophyll disappears, the mesophyll is sunken, and the gloss is lost. This disease can occur throughout the year, and in the high-temperature seasons of summer and autumn, it is a period of severe outbreak. It mostly occurs on immature leaves, and until the orchid leaves mature and die of old age, the diseased spots still remain. In winter the condition pauses slightly, and the symptoms turn slightly negative. The "Byakuro" disease has very strong heredity; once an orchid plant is infected with this disease, it will certainly continue generation after generation. The "Byakuro" virus itself cannot be seen with the naked eye, and orchids infected in the early stage cannot be distinguished. When we buy orchids, it is best to select and buy from reputable orchid growers and nurseries; if buying on the market, first observe whether all the orchids in that stall are healthy; if some are found to carry this disease, it is best not to buy. Orchids infected with "Byakuro" not only have no ornamental value, but also no economic value. The orchid plant will inevitably wither and die. What is even more serious is that it will endanger the entire orchid nursery, making it possible for all the orchids in the whole nursery to be infected with this disease, causing "total annihilation". The "Byakuro" virus can cross-infect through insects (especially mites), knives and scissors, pots and tools, and also through contact and friction between orchid leaves, causing originally healthy orchid plants to be infected with the incurable "Byakuro" virus. Therefore, when wecultivateorchids, it is best to keep a certain distance between plants, and orchid leaves should not touch each other; when dividing plants for propagation or removing diseased leaves, it is best not to use knives or tools, but to peel and separate by hand, and immediately apply sulfur powder or other fungicides to the wounds. The orchid nursery should regularly spray insecticides and sterilizing drugs, so that insects and fungi cannot grow and multiply to harm the orchids. If "Byakuro" diseased orchids are found, they should be burned without regret, and even the potting medium and pots should never be used again. Orchids are endangered plants, with scarce species resources, and are a precious treasure of our motherland. Every orchid enthusiast has the responsibility to protect their healthy development. Xu Yiju