Incidence of cymbidium mosaic and odontoglossum ringspot viruses and their significance in orchid cultivation in Singapore

Abstract

A survey of cymbidium mosaic virus (CyMV) and odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV) in orchids cultivated in Singapore was conducted during 1988–1991. Of the 12 genera from four major commercial orchid farms, 54.6% of the plants were infected with CyMV, 4.0% with ORSV, and 14.2% with both CyMV and ORSV. Among the 29 genera from the orchid nursery of Botanic Gardens, 34.5% were infected with CyMV, 0.3% with ORSV, and 8.3% with both CyMV and ORSV. From the 13 orchid genera cultivated in tissue-culture flasks in the tissue culture laboratory of the Botanic Gardens, 50.5% were infected with CyMV, none with ORSV alone, and 0.5% with both CyMV and ORSV. These findings emphasize the need to implement a virus-free certification programme that would greatly enhance the management of these two prevalent viruses in the Singapore orchid industry.