To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Black raspberry question
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 10:28:36 -0500
On Feb 3, 2011, at 10:15 AM, Jim Fruth wrote:
From Road's End Farm, "Anything I plant here does fine for two or
three years, then comes down with the virus."
What are the symptoms of a virus infection? Does it kill the
plants? What?
Misshapen leaves. Crumbly, undersized berries. Severely stunted canes
with little or no fruit production.
I never had them tested for the specific virus. I tried different
varieties of virus-free, supposedly resistant plants, in different
locations; after about three rounds I gave up.
This area used to be a huge producer of black raspberries, used for
dye as well as both black and red shipped to New York City in the
first half of the 20th century. When the virus came in, that whole
business died. But the wild blackcaps are everywhere; they carry it,
but aren't bothered by it.
-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale