Double-stranded RNA Associated with the Rose Rosette Disease of Multiflora Rose

Four double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) of M r of 2.9, 1.2, 1.0, and 0.93×10 6 were associated with tissues of multiflora rose showing symptoms of the rose rosette disease. Similar dsRNAs were not detected in tissue from a healthy rose. The dsRNAs were consistently associated with both transmission of the causal agent by grafting and with mechanical transmission using minutens. No evidence was obtained for transmission of the causal agent through seed or fruit harvested from infected plants