North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Hilborn.E@epamail.epa.gov]

Michael wrote: "Red raspberries and blackberries can carry viruses
asymptomatically that severely affect black raspberries.  The distance
is to help stop spread which can be either by pollen or by aphids
depending on the virus.  For whatever reason, black raspberries seem to
be extra-sensitive to these viruses that are less of a problem for the
other berries.  As a result, black raspberries have become the standard
for graft testing for viruses from red raspberry and blackberry, because
they show the symptoms quickly.  On the flip side of the coin, black
raspberries have shrunk from being a much larger industry in this
country than red raspberries because growers have such problems with
disease."

Thanks Michael. TFB directed me to Nourse (thank you!)where they tout
virus-free brambles.  However, I am sure the naturalized blackberries in
my area are a source of virus.  I will give black raspberries a try
knowing that they may be short lived.

Betsy Hilborn
7a NC