I was particularly interested in what the new ARS website would say about rose viruses. The only rose virus mentioned so far is RRD, and the article used was last revised in 2001!

http://www.ars.org/pdfs/rose_rosette.pdf

Is this article out of date? For example: is it still considered accurate that:

"In any case, he says, it's almost impossible to transmit this disease mechanically, such as with clippers."

H. Kuska comment: Since the disease can be transmitted by grafting (sap to sap), I would expect that cleaning pruners (as suggested in the following article: http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/2009/07/rose-rosette-disease ) would be a good precaution. Also please note that that scottarboretum article contains the following statement: "The pathogen can survive on old root pieces in the soil, thus be sure to thoroughly remove all parts of the infected plants."

Also, as indicated in the following 2006 published, reviewed scientific paper, controlled scientific studies have not yet been done to rule out other insect modes of transmission (in addition to the known transmitter, the microscopic wingless mite, Phyllocoptes fructiphylus) :

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~kmoloney/Instructor/Papers/jesse2006a.pdf

Here is a link that might be useful: link for 2006 scientific paper