Hi,
Since reading about heat treatment for mosaic virus in
Hippeastrum, I thought I'd try it as a last resort for some affected
bulbs I purchased from Thailand (mostly H.reticulatum or reticulatum
hybrids). I removed the existing leaves and roots, cut off excess
basal plate and used a well-controlled hybridization oven in my lab. I
treated 9 small bulbs (largest 4.5 cm diameter) at 56 degrees C for 2
hours. When they sprouted up again there was still some viral pattern,
though less, so I retreated them. It required dusting with rooting
powder, but 2/3 have new small roots after a month and half are leafing
out. There is no sign of mosaic virus so far on the leaves. (I warned
my plant biologist colleagues I was doing this, but they did not seem
concerned about the soybeans, strawberries, peas or arabidopsis, just
joked about barbacued amaryllis).
--Ellen C.

--
Dr. Ellen Chernoff, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
IUPUI-Biology SL 360
723 W. Michigan St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5132
317-274-0591

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