My own sad experience has only been with peach leaf curl. Nearly wiped out my bench grafts the first year, certainly weakened them. Scions should be doused with LS before use, seems to me.

axel_sc started a thread a while back with some better info than i can give.

(attached)

Here is a link that might be useful: evils of exchanging scion wood

Steve,

Funny, here near Portland, OR I assume Peach Leaf curl is ever present in the environment.

Peach leaf curl isn't transmitted via scionwood. But it certainly could affect a new graft so would need spraying like any peach/nectarine.

Viruses are the main concern. Plum pox virus is one example. It is widely present in Europe. So importing scion wood from another region could bring a virus with it.

I've got viruses in my stone fruit. In fact a tree planted this year seems infected. So far it hasn't affected the fruit that I can tell but I am concerned and taking out some trees.

I've never exchanged scionwood with anyone. So I'm not sure where it came from. Could be I was sold infected trees.

fruitnut, I'm really surprised to hear that you haven't ever exchanged scionwood. As much of a fruit nut as you are, you must have had to try hard to avoid it, no? I'm curious to hear why you haven't. Is it all about virus concern? If you buy a new variety already grafted are you that much safer than grafting it yourself? Or are commercial sources really a lot safer?

floyd:

Commercial sources should be safer. They should test their mother trees every year. But it may amount to nothing more than the eyeball test, does the tree look OK.

Some pictures of my trees that possibly have virus infection are linked below. I posted the pictures on DWN forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: stone fruit virus pictures

The question isn't about the general danger of viruses but about the added danger of acquiring wood from sources where viruses are not screened. I believe that licensed commercial nurseries, unlike mine, begin with wood that is carefully screened for viruses.

Viruses that affect productivity of apples are quite common but in all my years of grafting wood from unscreened sources I've never noticed the affects myself. Based on my experience in the northeast- the problems may be different elsewhere- I've decided not to worry about tainted scion wood.

Two years back, we have grown appe in our orchid. We have ordered budwood for several apple varieties from Botner. The budded trees are now growing in my orchard! So far they are healthy.

Two years back, we have grown appe in our orchid. We have ordered budwood for several apple varieties from Botner. The budded trees are now growing in my orchard! So far they are healthy.