Differential response of hosta cultivars to infection by hosta virus X potexvirus - A basis for practical disease management

Hosta virus X potexvirus is the most commonly occurring virus of hostas (Hosta spp.) in the USA, and can produce very damaging symptoms in some hosta cultivars. Fifty-seven hosta cultivars were evaluated for response to natural or experimental infection by HVX, and fell into three distinct categories. Susceptible cultivars developed pronounced symptoms, frequently resulting in complete leaf desiccation. Tolerant cultivars became infected but developed no visual symptoms. Immune cultivars were not infected by HVX. Management of HVX infection in hostas can be achieved by elimination of HVX-infected susceptible cultivars, ELISA indexing of tolerant cultivars, and using planting distances that minimize the possibility of me chanical spread of HVX between tolerant and susceptible cultivars.