Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus
Extension offices and state universities are warning growers of the dangers this year of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) and thusly a lack of availability of Impatiens this growing season. INSV is closely related to the Tomato Spotted wilt Virus (TSWV) and was once called I-strain and L-strain of TSWV. INSV causes a wide variety of symptoms including wilting, stem death, stunting, etches of ring spots on the leaves and sunken spots on the leaves as well as other symptoms. The virus has the ability to “compartmentalize” itself so that it affects only one area of the plant. Regardless of the situation, all affected plants should be destroyed immediately as there is no cure for this virus. Other plants affected by this virus are gloxinia, cineraria, chrysanthemums (all of which you will see now for the Easter season), begonias, tomatoes, other vegetables and grasses. There have even been reports of the virus showing up in specimens of salvia. Other than the propag