Cause One of the principal viruses in amaryllis is hippeastrum mosaic virus (HiMV), formerly amaryllis mosaic virus; it is a filamentous-shaped virus transmitted by aphids. Nerine latent virus (NeLV), mechanically transmitted cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) also are problems in amaryllis.
Symptoms HiMV causes an irregular light-and-dark green mosaic pattern on leaves and flower stalks.
NeLV-infected plants rarely show any symptoms.
CMV-infected plants show yellow concentric ring and line patterns on leaves.
TSWV causes irregularly shaped yellow, white, and/or dark green spots and line patterns on leaves, which might be confused with those caused by CMV in some cases.
Cultural control
- Remove and destroy diseased plants or bulbs.
- Grow new hybrids isolated from old virus-infected stock.
- Sterilize knives regularly while cutting flowers.
- In greenhouse-grown stock, insecticides help control the spread of virus by controlling the vectors.
Reference Raj, S.K., Snehi S.K., Kumar, S., and Khan, M.S. 2009. First molecular detection and identification of a potyvirus associated with severe mosaic disease of amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybridum Hort.) in India. Australasian Plant Disease Notes 4: 50-53.