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Infected plants, revisited

So, I've ranted about this before, I'm gonna rant again.


I want to remind you that it's critical to check the roots of any/all purchased trees for signs of infection/infestation.  Sometimes just inspecting them closely on arrival isn't always "good enough", as I will show in this thread.

Back story:  I purchased four trees from a Louisiana nursery at the end of 2009.  I won't name the nursery, it's not important to the thread.  If you buy from Louisiana and are concerned, contact me privately by PM here on the forum, I got my ass handed to me last time I mentioned names publicly.

Three of the four plants had serious problems.  The first plant I noticed had a root infection right away, and I shipped it back (it should have never been sold).  The second started having dieback problems within the first few weeks, and died within 12-14 months.  The third I just noticed the root infection while repotting and had to spend a good hour cleaning up and spraying down everything, bagging the soil and throwing away the pot, soil and everything. 

The first of the four was a Marseilles, it was extremely infested with RKN (Root Knot Nematode); RKN is incurable, and will infect the soil at your home, thus infecting all of your plants.  RKN transmits by soil, it can be transmitted on your clothes from infected soil to other parts of the yard, by potting a new plant into a previously infected pot, by working with soil after touching infected soil.

The second plant, a Hollier, developed some strange disease and died mysteriously at the beginning of this year.  I still don't know what happened. It was a 2nd year plant, it died back mysteriously while inside my house overwintering in 2009/2010.  Dunno.  The same dieback continued on the plant in large sections until it died to the base.

I repotted a third tree today, an LSU Scott's Black.  I was pissed to find that it also was mildly infested with RKN.  This tree has been in the same pot with clean soil (same new bag I used to pot about 20 other trees) and I never allowed to run roots into the ground.  The only logical solution is that it had a couple bits of RKN that I missed when it arrived, just like the Marseilles from the same source/shipment.

I setup the tree with an airlayer about 12" from the soil surface using clean potting mix and a water bottle in hopes of saving the tree.

I will remind folks:

* Always closely inspect your roots when plants arrive for knots like the ones pictured in this thread.

* Always check the roots when up-potting or putting in the ground as the plant grows; I like to untangle a couple of roots to inspect.

* Never trust any nursery to keep things 'clean'; never trust any source to keep things 'clean'. 

Here is a picture of what I found waiting for me when I untangled some of the roots.  Explains why this tree's growth has been so stunted....

    Attached Images

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Jason,

I cannot see the picture.

Thank you
Karla

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You must be logged in to see the picture.  Are you logged in?
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I am logged in. For somer reason I see it now.

Karla

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It might have been that darn forum bug (disappearing pictures). I really wish the Websitetoolbox folks would fix it.
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Thanks for the reminder, Jason. Not sure why anyone would be upset at you for mentioning the name of a nursery that is passing out infected plants. Probably not even legal to sell them. This forum is for sharing information and sometimes that includes negative experiences. Personally, I would contact the local ag agent for that retail seller and hear what they have to say about the practice. A private vendor/forum member would be dealt with privately. Good luck!
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I would never be the one to report it to the Dept of Agriculture, but one of these days, someone is going to buy a tree that will... and I'm afraid of what will happen.  I wouldn't be surprised if the nursery was shut down and charged a hefty fine after reviewing what is a pretty damning string of picture evidence and written accounts of the nursery sending RKN-infected plant material across state lines over the last 5+ years.

I know "it happens".  If it didn't, there wouldn't be a reason to post threads like this to remind folks.  I mean, it's entirely possible that you may find RKN in your potting mix or pine bark or whatever (I suppose), and any nursery could send out an infected plant, but man.  when 50% of plants you order from a source are infected, that's pretty bad.  When there are several dozen reports of it on the internet, that's horrendous.
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Good info, Jason. Thanks for posting; I'll watch any incoming roots!
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Everyone that grows plants for food knows that RKN is a serious problem and the spread of it must be curtailed whenever possible. That nursery is not doing anyone but themselves a favor. If the law mandates that they cease selling infected plants, then there is a good reason for it. Better that than to have states start prohibititng the interstate trade of edible plants for the rest of us when the problem becomes severe enough.

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