Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Passifloras are really catching my eye, 1 by Clare_CA

Clare_CA wrote:
Hi Sandra, I did some research about Passifloras and viruses when my P. Incense started showing the Cucumber Mosaic Virus. See this link: http://www.countyofsb.org/agcomm/cmv.htm

I found that Passifloras, like many tropicals, are particularly susceptible to viruses, but in most cases, they can live with them without being affected. The P. Incense Passiflora was propagated from a parent plant which was known to be infected with the Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV). Therefore, all cuttings taken from that plant carried the virus also. There has since been created a new P. Incense, called "Allspice," which does not contain the CMV.

I wrote to Logee's, Monterey Bay Nurseries, and San Marcos Growers for information about this virus and other viruses.

This is a very helpful response from Byron Martin the owner of Logee's:

"The hybrid Incense is in fact infected with a virus as are many of the Passiflora hybrids grown commercially. We have been growing this cultivar for many years and from time to time does show the mottling in the leaves. Unfortunately, it is true that this does reduce the vigor of the plant."

"I don't know the clone "Allspice;" however, we have just received another hybrid of the same parents as Incense that is supposed to be virus free called "Inspiration." It will take some time to evaluate it, but hopefully, within a year, we will be selling it.

"As for your plant, what to do with it? I would enjoy it and not worry about your other plants in your collection for, if they are older cultivars, they most certainly have been exposed to viruses. If you want to take precautions, make sure you disinfect your cutting utensils between varieties when pruning.

"It's always beneficial to have virus-free plant material and much of the high volume annual and crop material in contemporary horticulture is clean, but if we're to grow the multitude of unusual and exotic plant found in the world, we'll, at the present time, have to live with the reality of viruses in our plants.

"Incidently, some plants when infected with viruses are killed. Examples of this are the New Guinea Impatiens which, when infected, go into a decline and die. Other like the Passionflower show the symptoms yet have been growing with the viruses for years. The bad news is that we don't get to experience the full vigor of the plants we grow."

This is a picture of the P. Incense leaf with CMV: